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V 


MEMOIRS     n 

Rev.  SAMUEL  PEARCE,  a.  m. 

MINISTER  OF  THfc  GOSPEL 

in 

BIRMINGHAM; 

WITH 

EXTRACTS 

FROM    SOME    OF    HIS    MOST    INTERESTING 

LETTERS. 


C  O  Mf/l  ED      BY 

ANDREW VFULLER,  D.  D. 

Author  of  "  The  Calviniftic  and  Sociniail  Svftems  compared,  as  to  their  mora' 
tendency,"  and  M  The  Goipel  its  own  Witnefs." 


Oh  Jonathan,  thou  waft  flain  upon  thy  high  places.     I  am  diflrefled 
for  thee,  my  brother  Jonathan  !  david, 


SOS  TON: 
Printed  by  and  for  Manning  fcf  Loring,  No.  2,  CornhllL 

AUGUST,   I?OI„ 


MEMOIRS 


Of   THE    LATS 


Rev.   SAMUEL    PEARCE,  a.m. 

Mioificr  of  the  Gofpel  in  Birmingham. 

TO   WHICH   ARE   ANNEXED, 

THREE 

OCCASIONAL   SERMONS, 
By  ANDREW  FULLER,  D.  D. 


TO    THE 

FAMILY  AND  FRIENDS 

OF 

Mr.  PEARCE, 
Tiies  e  Memoirs, 

COMPILED    WITH    THEIR    APPROBATION 
AND    FROM    A    TENDER    REGARD    TO    HIS    MEMOaY* 
ARE    AFFECTIONATELY 

AND    RESPECTFULLY 
INSCRIBED    BY 

THE    COMPILER, 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 


* • 7 

Chap,     I. 


His  parentage*  converfion,  call  to  the  mini/try,  and  fet- 
tlement  at  Birmingham • 9 

Chap.     IL 

His  laborious  exertions  in  promoting  miffions  to  the 
heathen,  and  offering  himfelf  to  become  a  mif- 
fionary .  . . . .     2f> 

Chap.     IIL. 

His  religious  exercifes  and  labours,  from  the  time  of 
his  relinquifhing  the  idea  of  going  abroad,  to  the 
commencement  of  his  laft  illnefs 60 

Chap.     IV. 

An  account  of  his  laft  affL&ion,  and  the  holy  and  hap- 

py  exercifes  of  his  mind  under  it 103 

Chap.     V, 

General  outlines  of  his  chara&er,  illuftrated  by  ex- 
amples    141 

Concluding  Reflexions 175 

Rev.  Mr.  Brewer's  Oration 185 

Dr.  Ryland's  Sermon 19S 


INTRODUCTION. 


JT  was  obferved  by  this  excellent  man,  dur* 
ing  his  laft  affli&ion,  that  he  never  till 
then  gained  any  perfonal  inftru&ion  from  our 
Lord's  telling  Peter  by  what  death  he  fhould 
glorify  God.  To  die  by  a  confumption,  had 
ufed  to  be  an  objeft  of  dread  to  him  :  But, 
<c  Oh  my  Lord,"  faid  he,  "  if  by  this  death 
I  can  moft  glorify  thee,  I  prefer  it  to  all 
others."  The  lingering  death  of  the  crofs, 
by  which  our  Saviour  himfelf  expired,  afford- 
ed him  an  opportunity  of  uttering  fome  of  the 
mod  affecting  fentences  which  are  left  on 
facred  record  :  And  to  the  lingering  death 
of  this  his  honoured  fervant,  we  are  indebt- 
ed for  a  confiderable  part  of  the  materials 
which  appear  in  thefe  Memoirs.  Had  he 
been  taken  away  fuddenly,  there  had  been 
no  opportunity  for  him  to  have  expreffed 
his  fentiments  and  feelings  in  the  manner  he 
has  now  done  in  letters  to  his  friends.  While 
in  health,  his  hands  were  full  of  labour,  and 
confequently  his  letters  were  written  moftly 
upon  the  fpur  of  occafion  ;  and  related  prin- 
cipally to  bufinefs,  or  to  things  which  would 
be  lefs  interefting  to  Chriftians  in  generah 

It 


9  INTRODUCTION. 

It  is  true*  even  in  them  it  was  his  manner 
to  drop  a  few  fentiments,  towards  the  clofe* 
of  an  experimental  kind  j  and  many  of  thefe 
hints  will  be  interfperfed  in  this  brief  account 
of  him  :  But  it  was  during  his  affii&ion* 
when,  being  laid  afide  nearly  a  year,  and  oblig* 
ed  to  defift  from  all  public  concerns,  that  he 
gave  fcope  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart.  Here* 
(landing  as  on  an  eminence,  he  reviewed  his 
life,  re-examined  the  ground  of  his  hope,  and 
anticipated  the  crown  which  awaited  him, 
with  a  joy  truly  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory.  - 

Like  Elijah,  he  has  left  the  chafibt  oflfrael^ 
and  afcended  as  in  a  chariot  of  fire  ;  but  not 
without  having  firft  communicated  of  his  em- 
inently Chriftian  fpirit.  Oh  that  a  double 
portion  of  it  may  reft  upon  us  ! 


MEMOIRS 


OF    THE    LATS 


Mr.  SAMUEL    PEARCE, 


CHAP.     I. 

HIS    PARENTAGE,   CONVERSION,  CALL    TO    THE    MINISTRY, 
AND    SETTLEMENT    AT    BIRMINGHAM. 

1\1r.  Samuel  Pearce  was  born  at  Plymouth 
•on  July  2cth,  1 766.  His  father,  who  furvives  him,  is 
a  refpe&able  filverfmith,  and  has  been  many  years  a 
deacon  of  the  Baptifl  church  in  that  place. 

When  a  child,  he  lived  with  his  grandfather,  who 
was  very  fond  of  him,  and  endeavoured  to  imprefs  his 
mind  with  the  principles  of  religion.  At  about  eight 
or  nine  years  of  age  he  came  home  to  his  father  with 
a  view  of  learning  his  bufinefs.  As  he  advanced  in  life, 
his  evil  propenfities,  as  he  has  faid,  began  to  ripen  ;  and 
forming  connexions  with  feveral  vicious  fchool-fellows, 
he  became  more  and  more  corrupted.  So  greatly  was 
his  heart  at  this  time  fet  in  him  to  do  evil,  that  had  it 
not  been  for  the  reftraining  goodnefs  of  God,  which 
fomehow,  he  knew  not  how,  preferved  him  in  mod  in- 
ftances  from  carrying  his  wicked  inclinations  into  prac- 
tice, he  fuppofed  he  fhould  have  been  utterly  ruined. 

At  times  he  was  under  ftrong  convictions,  which  ren- 
dered him  miferable  •,  but  at  other  times  they  fubfided ; 
and  then  he  would  return  with  eagernefs  to  his  finful 
purfuits.     When  about  fifteen  years  old  he  was  fent  by 
B  his 


i-o  Memoirs  of  the  laie 

his  father  to  inquire  after  the  welfare  of  a  perfon  in  the 
neighbourhood,  in  dying  circumftances,  who  (though 
before  his  departure  he  was  in  a  happy  date  of  mind, 
yet)  at  that  time  was  finking  into  deep  defpair.  While 
in  the  room  of  the  dying  man,  he  heard  him  cry  out 
with  inexprefTible  agony  of  fpirit,  "  I  am  damned  for- 
ever V9  Thefe  awful  words  pierced  his  foul ;  .and  he  felt 
a  jefolution  at  the  time  to  ferve  the  Lord' :  but  the  im- 
preffion  foon  wore  off,  and  he  again  returned  to  folly. 

When  about  fixteen  years  of  age,  it  pleafed  God  ef- 
fectually to  turn  him  to  himfelf.  A  fermon  delivered 
by  Mr.  Birt,  who  was  then  co-paflor  with  Mr.  Gibbs, 
of  the  Baptift  church  at  Plymouth,  was  the  firft  mean 
of  impreffing  his  heart  with  a  fenfe  of  his  loft  condition, 
and  of  directing  him  to  the  gofpel  remedy.  The  change 
in  him  appears  to  have  been  fudden,  but  effectual ;  and 
the  recollection  of  his  former  vicious  propenfities,  though 
z  fource  of  bitternefs,  yet  furnilhed  a  ftrong  evidence  of 
its  being  the  work  of  God.  iC  I  believe,"  he  fays,  "  few 
converfions  were  more  joyful.  The  change  produced 
iri  my  views,  feelings,  and  conduft,  was  fo  evident  to 
myfelf,  that  I  couid  no  more  doubt  of  its  being  from 
God,  than  of  my  exifhence.  I  had  the  witnefs  in  my.-? 
fdf,  and  was  filled  with  peace  and  joy  unfpeakable." 

His  feelings  being,  naturally  ftrong,  and  receiving  a 
new  dire£Hon,  he  entered  into  religion  with  all  his  heart ; 
but  not  having  known  the  devices  of  Satan,  his  foul  was 
entangled  by  its  own  ardour,  and  he  was  thrown  into 
great  perplexity.  Having  read  Doddridge's  Rife  and 
Progrefs  of  Religion  in  the  Soul,  he  determined  formally  to 
dedicate  himfelf  to  the  Lord,  in  the  manner  recommend- 
ed in  the  feventeenth  chapter  of  that  work.  Tne  form 
of  a  covenant,  as  there  drawn  up,  he  alfo  adopted  as  his 
own ;  and  that  he  might  bind  himfelf  in  the  moll  folemn 
and  affe&ing  manner,  figned  it  with  his  blood.  But  after- 
wards failing  in  his  engagements,  he  was  plunged  into 
dreadful  perplexity, and  almoft  into  defpair.  On  a  review 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  r  s 

tt  his  covenant,  he  feems  to  have  accufed  himfelf  of  a 
pharifaical  reliance  upon  the  fttength  of  his  own  refo- 
lations ;  and  tlierefore  taking  the  paper  to  the  top  of 
his  father's  houfe,  he  tore  it  into  f mall  pieces,  and  threw 
it  from  him  to  be  fcattered  by  the  wind.  He  did  net 
however  confider  his  obligation  ta  be  the  Lord's  as 
hereby  nullified ;  but  feeling  more  fufpicion  of  himfeli, 
he  depended  upon  the  blood  of  the  croft. 

After  this  he  was  baptized,  and  became  a  member  of 
the  Baptift  church'  at  PI ymouth,  the  minifters  and  mem- 
bers of  which,  in  a-  few  years,  perceived  in  him  talents 
for  public  work.  Being  folicifed  by  both  his  pallors,  he 
exercifed  as  a  probationer;  and  receiving  a  unanimous 
call  from  the  church,  entered  on  the  work  of  tire  min- 
istry in  November,  1786.  Soon  after  this  he  went  to 
the  academy  at  Briftol:,  then  under  the  fuperintendence 
of  Hr.  Caleb  Evans. 

Mr.  Birty  now  paftor  of  the  Baptift  church,  in  the 
fquare,  Plymouth  Dock,  in  a  letter  to  the  compiler  of 
thefe  memoirs,  thus  fpeaks  of  him  :— "  Though  he  was, 
fo  far  as  I  know,  the  very  firft  fruits  of  my  miniftry,  on 
my  coming  hither,  and  though  our  friendfhip  and  affec- 
tion for  each  other  were  great  ^nd  conflant ;  yet  previ- 
ous to  his  going  to  Briftol  I  had  but  few  opportunities 
of  converting  with  him,  or  of  making  particular  obfer- 
vations  on  him.  All  who  belt  knew  him,  however, 
will  remember,  and  mud  tenderly  fpeak  of  his  loving 
deportment  •,  and  thofe  who  attended  the  conferences 
with  him  foon  received  the  mod  imprefTive  intimations 
of  his  future  eminence  as  a  minifter  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
Chrift." 

"  Very  few,"  adds  Mr.Birt,  "  have  entered  upon,  and 
gone  through  their  religious  profeffion  with  more  exalt- 
ed piety,  or  warmer  zeal,  than  Samuel  Pearce ;  and  as 
few  have  exceeded  him  in  the  poffeflion  and  difplay  of 
that  charity  which  <  fuffereth  long,  and  is  kind,  that  en- 
vieth  not,  that  vaunteth  not  itfelf,  and  is  not  puffed  up* 

that 


12  Memoirs  of  the  late 

that  doth  not  behave  itfelf  unfeemly,  that  feeketh  not 
her  own,  is  not  cafily  provoked,  thinketh  no  evil,  that 
beareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things,,  endureth  all 
things/    But  why  fhould  I  fay  this  to  you  ?  You  knew 

him  yourfelf." 

While  at  the  aeademy  he  was  much  diftinguiflied  by^ 
the  amiablenefs  of  his  fpirit  and  behaviour.  It  is  fome- 
times  obfervable  that  where  the  talents- of  a  young  man 
are  admired  by  his  friends,  and  his  early  efforts  flatter- 
ed by  crowded  auditories,  effefts  have  been  produced 
which  have  proved  fatal  to  his  future  refpe£Vability  and 
ufefulnefs.  But  this  was  not  the  cafe  with  Mr.  Pearce. 
Amidft  the  tide  of  popularity,  which  even  at  that  early: 
period  attended  his  minifterial  exercifes,  his  tutors  have 
more  than  once  remarked  that  he  never  appeared  to 
them  to  be  in  the  leaft  elated,  or  to  have  negle&ed  his 
proper  ftudies  ;  but  was  uniformly  the  ferious,  induftri- 
ous,  docile,  mode  ft,  and  unaffuming  young  man. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  1789,  he  came  to  the  church 
in  Cannon-ftreet,  Birmingham,  to  whom  he  was  recom- 
mended by  Mr.  Hall,  now  of  Cambridge,  at  that  time 
one  of  his  tutors.  After  preaching  to  them  a  while  on 
approbation,  he  was  chofen  to  be  their  paftor.  His 
ordination  was  in  Auguft,  1790.  Dr.  Evans  gave  the 
charge,  and  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Hall  of  Arnlby,  deliv- 
ered an  addrefs  to  the  church  on  the  occaficn.  In  the 
year  1 791,  he  married  Mifs  Sarah  Hopkins,  daughter  of 
Mr.  Joftiua  Hopkins  of  Alcefter ;  a  connexion  which 
appears  to  have  been  all  along  a  fource  of  great  enjoy- 
ment to  him.  The  following  lines  addrefied  to  Mrs. 
Pearce  when  he  was  on  a  journey,  a  little  more  than  a 
year  after  their  marriage,  feem  to  be  no  more  than  a 
common  letter :  yet  they  fhew,  not  only  the  tendernefs 
of  his  afFedtion,  but  his  heavenly  mindednefs,  his  gen- 
tle manner  of  perfuading,  and  how  every  argument  was 
fetched  from  religion,  and  every  incident  unproved  for 
introducing  it  :• 

u  Chipping 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearcc.  1 3 

"  Chipping  Norton,  Aug.  15,  179*, 
"  I  BELIEVE  on  retrofpeftion  that  I  have  hith- 
erto rather  anticipated  the  propofed  time  of  my  return, 
than  delayed  the  interview  with  my  dear  Sarah  for  an 
hour.  But  what  fhall  I  fay,  my  love, now  to  reconcile  you 
to  my  procraflinating  my  return  for  feveral  days  more  ? 
Why  I  will  fay,  it  appears  I  am  called  of  God  ;  and  I 
truft  the  piety  of  both  of  us  will.fubmit  and  fay,  Thy 
will  be  done. 

«  You  have  no  doubt  perufed  Mr.  Ryland's  letter  to 
me,  wherein  I  find  hefolicits  an  exchange.  The  rea- 
fon  he  afligns  is  fo  obvioufly  important,  that  a  much 
greater  facrifice  than  we  are  called  to  make,  fhould  not 
be  withheld  to  accomplifh  it.  I  therefore  propofe,  God 
willing,  to  fpend  the  next  Lord's-day  at  Northampton. — 
I  thought  of  taking  tea  with  you  this  evening  :  that 
would  have  been  highly  gratifying  to  us  both ;  but  it 
muft  be  our  meat  and  drink,  to  do  and  fubmit  to  the 
will  of  our  heavenly.  Father.  All  is  good  that  conies 
from  him,  and  all  is  done  right  which  is  done  in  obe- 
dience to  him.  Oh  to  be  perfe-flly  refigned  to  his  dif- 
pofal — how  good  is  it .!  May  you,  my  deareft  Sarah, 
and  myfelf,  daily  prove  the  fweetnefs  of  this  pious  frame 
of  foul  :  then  all  our  duties  will  be  fweet,  all  our -trials 
will  be  light,  all  our  pleafures  will  be  pure,  and  all  our 
hopes  fanttified.. 

"  This  evening.  I  hope  to  be  at  Northampton.  Let 
your  prayers  affift  my  efforts  on  the  enfuing  Sabbath. 

You  will,  I  truft,  find  in  Mr.  R a  fnip  richly  laden 

with  fpiritual  treafures.     Oh  for  more  fupplies  from  the 
exhauitlefs  mines,  of  grace  ! 

S.P." 

THE  foul  of  Mr.  Pearce  was  formed  for  friendfhip  : 

It  was  natural  therefore  to  fuppofe,  that  while  engaging 

in  the  purfuit  of  his  ftudies  at  the  academy,  he  would 

contract  religious  intimacies  with  fome  of- his  brethren  ;, 

El.  and. 


14  Memoirs  of  the  late 

and  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  grand  cement  of  his 
friendfhip  was  kindred  piety.  In  the  two  following  let- 
ters, addreffed  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Steadman,  the  reader 
will  perceive  the  juftnefs  of  this  remark,  as  well  as  the 
encouraging  profpe&s  which  foon  attended  his  labours 
at  Birmingham  :• 

u  My  very  dear  Brother,  May  9,  179*. 

"  YOU  live  fo  remote  that  I  can  hear  nothing  of 
your  profperity  at  Broughton..  I  hope  you  are  fettled 
with  a  comfortable  people,  and  that  you  enjoy  much  of 
your  Matter's  prefence,  both  in  the  ft-udy  and  the  pulpit. 
For  my  part,  I  have  nothing  to  lament  but  an  infenfi- 
ble,  ungrateful  heart,  and  that  is  fufficient  caufe  for  lam- 
entation. This,  only  this,  bows  me  down  5  and  un- 
der this  preflure  I  am  ready  to  adopt  the  words  I  preach- 
ed from  laft  evening, — Oh  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove, 
for  then  would  IJly  away  and  be  at  rejl ! 

ic  As  a  people  we  are  generally  united  :  I  believe 
more  fo  than  moft  churches  of  the  fame  dimenfions. 
Our  number  of  members  is  about  two  hundred  and 
ninety-five,  between  forty  and  fifty  of  whom  have  join- 
ed us  fince  I  faw  you,  and  moft  of  them  I  have  the 
happinefs  of  considering  as  my  children  in  die  faith. — 
There  is  ft  ill  a  crying  out  amongft  us  after  falvation  ; 
and  ftill,  through  much  grace,  it  is  my  happinefs  to 
point  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh  away  the 
fins  of  the  world. 

"  In  preaching,  I  have  often  peculiar  liberty ;  at  other 
times  barren.  I  fuppofe  my  experience  is  like  that  of 
moft  of  my  brethren  :  but  I  am  not  weary  of  my  worlc 
I  hope  ftill  that  I  am  willing  to  fpend  and  be  fpent,  fo 
that  I  may  win  fouls  to  Chrift,  and  finifh  my  courfe 
with  joy  :  but  I  want  more  heart  religion  :  I  want  a 
more  habitual  fenfc  of  the  divine  prefence  :  I  want  to 
walk  with  God  as  Enoch  walked.  There  is  nothing 
that  grieves  me  fo  much,  or  brings  fo  much  darknefs 

on 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  15 

on  my  foul,  as  my  little  fpirituality,  and  frequent  wan- 
derings in  fecret  prayer.  I  cannot  neglect  the  duty  y 
but  it  is  feldom  that  I  enjoy  it* 

«  Ye  that  love  the  Lord  indeed. 
Tell  me,  is  it  fo  with  you  I* 

When  I  come  to  the  houfe  of  God,  I  pray  and  preach 
with  freedom.  Then  I  think  the  prefence  of  the  peo- 
ple feems  to  weigh  more  with  me  than  the  prefence  of 
God,  and  deem  myfelf  a  hypocrite,  almoft  ready  to 
leave  my  pulpit,  for  fome  more  pious  preacher.  But 
the  Lord  does  own  the  word  5  and  again  I  fay,  if  I  go 
to  hell  myfelf,  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  keep  others  from 
going  thither  ^  and  fo  in  the  ftrength  of  the  Lord  I 
will. 

"  An  obfervation  once  made  to  me  helps  to  fupport 
me  above  water : — "  If  you  did  not  plough  in  your  clof- 
et,  you  would  not  reap  in  the  pulpit."  And  again  I 
think,  the  Lord  dwelletb  in  Zion>  and  loveth  it  more  than 
the  dwellings  of  Jacob* 

S.  P." 


"  Feb.  i,  1795. 
"  THE  pleafure  which  your  friendly  epiftle  gave 
me,  rifes  beyond  expreflion^  and  it  is  one  of  the  firft 
wifhes  of  my  heart  ever  to  live  in  your  valued  friends 
{hip.  Accept  this,  and  my  former  letters,  rny  dear 
brother,  as  Sufficient  evidences  of  my  ardent  wifhes  to 
preferve  by  correfpondence,  that  mutual  remembrance 
of  each  other,  which  on  my  part  will  ever  be  pleafura- 
ble,  and  on  yours,  I  hope,  never  painfuk 

w  But  ah,  how  foon  may  we  be  rendered  incapable 
of  fuch  an  intercourfe  !  When  I  left  Briftol,  I  left  it 
with  regret.  I  was  forry  to  leave  my  ftudies  to  embark 
(inexperienced  as  I  am)  on  the  tempeftuous  ocean  of 
public  life,  where  the  high  blowing  winds,  and  rude 
and  noify  billows,  mud  more  or  lefs  inevitably  annoy 

the 


1 6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

the  trembling  voyager.  Nor  did  it  make  a  fmall  addi- 
tion to  my  pain,  that  I  was  to  part  with  fo  many  of  my 
dear  companions,  with  whom  I  had  fpent  fo  many  hap* 
py  hours,  either  in  furnifhingor  irnburthening  the  mind.. 
I  need  not  fay,  among  the  firft  of  thefe  I  confiderei 
Jlfiah  Evans.*  But  an,  my  friend:,  we  (hall  fee  his  face 
no  more  !  Through  divine  grace  Lhope  we  {hall,  go  to 
lum  ;  but  he  will  not  return  to  us.  *  He  wafted  awayj 
he  gave  up  die  ghofl,  and  where  is  he  &'  I  was  prepar- 
ed for  the  news  becaufe  I  expected  it.  The  laft  time  I 
heard  dire&ly  from  him  was  by  a  very  feribus-  and  af- 
fectionate letter,  which  I  received,  I  think,  laft.  Septem- 
ber. To  it  I  replied  ->  but  received  no  anfwer-  I  coii-p 
je<ftured>  I  feared  ^  and  now  my  conjectures  and  fears 
are  all  realized.  Dear  departed  youth  !  Thy  memory 
will  ever  be  grateful  to  this  affectionate  breaft.  May 
thy  amiable  qualities,  live  again  in  thy  furviving  friend, 
that  to  the  lateft  period,  of  his  life  he  may  thank  God 
for  the  friendfhip  of  J f  ah  Evans  J 

"  I  aflure  you,  my  dear  Steadman,  I  feel,,  keenly  fee^ 
the  force  of  the  fentiment,  which  Blair  thus  elegantly 
exprefles, — 

'  Of  joys  departed,  ne'er  to  be  recall'd,- 
How  painful  the  remembrance  V 

"Butlforrow  not; as  one  without  hope.  I  have  a. 
twofold  hope  :.  I  hope  he  is  now  among  the  fpirits  of 
the  juft  made  perfecl,  and  that  he  will  be  of  the  blefled 
and  holy  number.who  have  part  in  the  firft  refurredtion  : 
and  I  hope  alfo  through  the  Same  rich,  free,  fovereign, 
almighty,  matchlefs  grace,  to  join  die  number  too. 
Pleafing;  thought !  Unite  to  divide  no  more  ! 

"I  preached  laft  night  from  Rev.  xxi.  6.  I  will '  givs 
unto  him  that  is  athirjl  of  the, fountain  cf  the  water  of  life 
freely.  I  took  cccafion  to  expound  the  former  part  of 
V  the 


*  See  a  brief  account  of  him,  given  In  part  by.  3tf 
Rippon-s  Rigi/Ur^  Vol,  L  p,  JI3— Ji6. 


Mr,  Pearce,  ia  Dr.. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  17 

the  chapter,  and  found  therein  a  pleafure  inexpreffible ; 
cfpecially  when  fpeaking  from  the  firft  verfe, — And  there 
was  no  more  feci.  The  firft  idea  which  prefented  itfelf 
to  me  was  this, — there  Jhall  be  no  bar  to  intercourfe. 
Whether  the  thought  be  juft  or  not,  I  leave  with  you 
and  my  hearers  to  determine  •,  but  I  found  happy  liberty 
in  illuftrating  it.  What  is  it  that  feparates  one  nation, 
and  one  part  of  the  globe  from  another  ?  Is  it  not  the  fea  ? 
Are  not  Chriftians,  though  all  of  one  family,  the  com- 
mon Father  of  which  is  God,  feparated  by  this  fea,  or 
that  river,  or  the  other  ftream  below  ?  Yes ;  but  they 
are  one  family  (till.  There  (hall  be  none  of  thefe  ob- 
ftruclions  to  communion,  of  thefe  bars  to  intercourfe  ; 
nothing  to  divide  their  affe&ions,  or  difunite  their  praife 
forever. — Forgive  my  freedoms.  I  am  writing  to  a 
friend,  to  a  brother.  S.  P." 


THERE  are  few,  if  any,  thinking  men,  but  who  at 
fome  feafons  have  had  their  minds  perplexed  with  re- 
gard to  religious  principles,  even  thofe  which  are  of  the 
greateft  importance.  In  the  end,  however,  where  the 
heart  is  right,  they  commonly  iflue  in  a  more  decided 
attachment  to  the  truth.  Thus  it  was  with  Mr.  Pearce. 
In  another  part  of  the  above  letter,  he  thus  writes  to 
his  friend  Steadman  : — "  I  have,  fince  I  iaw  you,  been 
much  perplexed  about  fome  doctrinal  points,  both  Ar- 
minian  and  Socinian,  I  believe  through  reading  very  at- 
tentively, but  without  fufficient  dependence  on  the 
Spirit  of  truth,  feveral  controverfies  on  thofe  fubjedts  \ 
particularly  the  writings  of  Whitby,  Prieftley,  and  oth- 
ers. Indeed,  had  the  ftate  of  mind  I  was  in  about  ten 
weeks  fince  continued,  I  fhould  have  been  incapable  of 
preaching  with  comfort  at  all.  But  in  the  mount  of 
the  Lord  will  he  be  feen.  juft  as  I  thought  of  giving 
up,  he  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hand,  and 
turneth  them  as  the  rivers  of  water  are  turned,  was 
pleafed,  by  a  merciful  though  affii&ing  providence,  to 
let  me  at  a  happy  liberty.  «  I 


rS  Memoirs  of  the  late 

«1 1  was  violently  feized  with  a  diforder  Very  rife 
here,  and  which  carried  off  many,  fuppofed  to  be  art  ill- 
flammation  in  the  bowels.  Cftie  Sabbath  evening  I  felt 
ftich  alarming  fymptoms  that  I  did  nor  expeft  ta  fee 
the  Monday  morning.  In  tliefe  circumftances  I  real- 
ized the  feelings  of  a  dying  mam  My  mind  had  been 
{6  accuftomed  to  refleft  on  virtue  and"  moral  goodnefs, 
that  the  firft  tiling  I  attempted  was  a  furvey  of  my 
own  conduct  ;  my  diligence  and  faithfalnefs  in  the 
miniftry,  my  unfpotted  life,.  fee.  &c.  But  ah  !  vain- 
props  thefe  for  dying  men  to  reft  on  !  Such  heart  fins, 
fuch  corruptions,  and'  evil  propenfities,  recurred  to  my 
mind,  that  if  ever  I  knew  the  moment  when  I  felt  my 
own  righteoufnefs  to  be  like  loathfome  and  filthy  rags,  it 
was  then.  And  where  fhould  I,  where  could  I,  where 
did  I  ilee,  but  to  Him,  whofe  glory  and  grace  I  had 
been  of  late  degrading,  at  kaft  in  my  thoughts  ?  Yesr 
there  I  faw  peace  for  guilty  confciences  was  to  be  alone 
obtained  through  an  almighty  Saviour.  And  oh  !  won- 
derful to  tell,  I  again  came  to  him  ;  nor  was  I  font 
away  without  the  bkfling.  I  found  him  full  of  all 
companion,  ready  to  receive  the  moft  ungrateful  of 
men. 

6  Oh,  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor 
Daily  I'm  cenftrain'd  to  be.' 

Thus,  my  dear  brother,  was  the  fnare  broken,  and  thus 
I  efcaped. 

'  A  debtor  to  mercy  alone, 
Of  covenant  mercy  I  fing/ 

Join  with  me  in  praifing  Him,  who  remembered  me  in 
my  low  eftate,  becaufe  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
Yet  this  is  among  the  all  things.  I  have  found  it  has 
made  me  more  fpiritual  in  preaching.  I  have  prized  the 
gofpel  more  than  ever,  and  hope  it  will  be  the  means 
cf  guarding  me  againft  future  temptations. 

Voir  brother,  with  ardent  affe&ion,  in  the  dear  Lord  Jefus, 

s.  p." 
from 


Mr.  Samuel  Peara.  xg 

TROMvhis  firft  coming  to  Birmingham,  his  meek- 
nefs  and  patience  were  put  to  the  trial  by  an  Antinomian 
ipirit  which  infe£ted  many  individuals,  both  in  and  out 
of  his  congregation.  It  is  well  known  with  what  affec- 
tion it  was  his  practice  to  befeech  finners  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  God,  and  to  exhort  Chriftians  to  the  exercife  of 
pra&ical  godlinefs  :  but  thefe  were  things  which  they 
could  not  endure.  Soothing  do£trine  was  all  they  de- 
fired.  Therefore  it  was,  that  his  miniflry  was  traduced 
by  them  as  Arminian,  and  treated  with  negleft  and 
contempt.  But,  like  his  Divine  Mafter,  he  bore  the 
contradiction  of  finners  againft  himfelf,  and  this  while 
lie  had  the  ftrongeft  fatisfa£tion  that  in  thofe  very  things 
to  which  they  objected,  he  was  pleafmg  God-  And 
though  he  plainly  perceived  the  pernicious  influence  of 
their  principles  upon  their  own  minds,  as  well  as  flic 
minds  of  others,  yet.he  treated  them  with  great  gentleneis 
and  long  forbearance  ;.  and  when  it  became  neceflary  to 
exclude  .ftich, of  this  defcription  as  were  in  communion 
xwitli  him,  it  was  with  the  greateft  reluctance  that  he 
came  into  that  meafure,  and  not  without  having  firft 
tried  all  other  means  in  vain.  He  was  not  apt  to  deal 
inharfh  language  ;  yet,  in  one  of  his  letters  about  that 
time,  he  fpeaks  of  the  principles  and  fpirit  of  thcfe  peo- 
ple as  a  "  curfed  .kaycn.-1 

Among  his  numerous  religious  frxendfhips,  he  feems  to 
Ivave  formed  one  for  the  fpecial  purpofe  oifpiriiual  im- 
provement. This  was  with  Mr.  Summers  of  London,  who 
often  accompanied  him  in  his  journeys ;  to  whom,  there- 
fore, it  might  be  expected  he  would  open  his  heart  with- 
out referve.  Here,  it  is  true,  we  fometimes  fee  him,  like 
fe.is  brethren,  groaning  under  darknefs,  want  of  fpiritu- 
ality,  and  the  remains  of  indwelling  fin  •,  but  frequently 
riling  above  all,  as  into  his  native  element,  and  pouring 
forth  his  ardent  foul  in  exprefiions  of  joy  and  praife. 
On  Aug.  .19,  J  793)  he  writes  thus  :— 

"My 


io  Memoirs  of  the  late 

*%  My  dear  Brother, 
"  WHEN  I  take  my  pen  to  purfue  my  correfpond- 
ence  with  youy  I  have  no  concern  but  to  communicate 
fomething  which  may  anfwer  the  fame  end  we  propofe 
in  our  annual  journeys  :  viz.  lending  fome  afliftance  in 
the  important  object  of  getting,  and  keeping  hearer  to  God* 
This  I  am  perfuaded  is  the  mark  at  which  we  fhould 
be  continually  aiming,  nor  reft  fatisfied  until  we  attain 
that  to  which  we  afpire.  I  am  really  afhamed  of  my- 
felf,  when,  on  the  one  hand,  I  review  the  time  that  has 
elapfed  fince  I  firft  affumed  the  Chriftian  name,  with 
the  opportunities-  of  improvement  in  godlinefs  which 
have  crowded  on  my  moments  fince  that  period  \  and 
when  on  the  other,  I  feel  the  little  advance  I  have  made  ! 
More  light 9  to  be  fure,  I  have  ;  but  light  without  heat 
leaves  the  Chriftian  half  diflatisfied.  Yefterday,  I 
preached  on  the  duty  of  engagednefs  in  God's  fervice, 
from  Jer.  xxx.  21,  Who  is  this  that  engaged  his  heart  to 
approach  unto  me  ?  faith  the  Lord.  (A  text  for  which  I 
am  indebted  to  our  laft  journey.)  While  urging  the 
neceflity  of  heart  religion,  including  fincerity  and  ardour, 
I  found  myfelf  much  affifted  by  reflecting  on  the  ardour 
which  our  dear  Redeemer  discovered  in  the  caufe  of 
finners.  "  Ah,"  I  could  not  help  faying,  "  if  our  Sa- 
viour had  meafured  his  intenfenefs  in  his  engagements 
for  us  by  our  fervency  in  fulfilling  our  engagements  to 
him, — we  fhould  have  been  now  farther  from  hope 
than  we  are  from  perfection." 

'  Dear  Lord,  the  ardour  of  thy  love 
Reproves  my  cold  returns.' 

"  Two  things  are  caufes  of  daily  aftonifhment  to  me  : 
— The  readinefs  of  Chrift  to  come  from  heaven  to  earth 
for  me  j  and  my  backwardness  to  rife  from  earth  to 
heaven  with  him.  But  oh  how  animating  the  profpeft  ! 
A  time  approaches  when  we  fnall  rife  to  fink  no  more : 
to  "  be  forever  with  the  Lord."  To  be  ivith  the  Lord 
for  a  week,  for  a  day,  for  an  hour ;   how  fweetly  muft 

the 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  2 1 

the  moments  pafs  !  But  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord, — 
that  inftamps  falvation  with  perfection  \  that  gives  an 
energy  to  our  hopes,  and  a  dignity  to  our  joy,  fo  as  to 
render  it  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory  I  I  have  had  a  few 
realizing  moments  fince  we  parted,  and  the  effeft  has 
been,  I  truft,  a  broken  heart.  Oh  my  brother,  it  is  de- 
ferable to  have  a  broken  heart,  were  it  only  for  the  fake 
of  the  pleafure  it  feels  in  being  helped  and  healed  by 
Jefus  !  Heart  affecting  views  of  the  curfed  effects  of  fin 
are  highly  falutary  to  a  Chriftian's  growth  in  humility, 
confidence,  and  gratitude.  At  once  how  abafing  and 
exalting  is  tl^e  comparifon  of  our  loathfome  hearts  with 
that  of  the  lovely  Saviour  !  In  Him,  we  fee  all  that  can 
charm  an  angel's  heart :  in  aurfelves,  all  that  can  gratify 
a  devil's.  And  yet  we  may  reft  perfectly  aflured  that 
thefe  nefts  of  iniquity  fhall  ere  long  be  transformed  into 
the  temples  of  God  ;  and  thefe  fighs  of  forrow  be  ex- 
changed for  fongs  of  praife. 

"  Laft  Lord's  day  I  fpent  the  moil  profitable  Sabbath 
to  myfelf  that  I  evy  remember  fince  I  have  been  in  the 
miniftry ;  and  to  this  hour  I  feel  the  fweet  folemnities 
of  that  day  delightfully  protra&ed.  Ah,  my  brother, 
were  it  not  for  paft  experience,  I  fhould  fay, 

1  My  heart  prefumes  I  cannot  lofe 
The  reliih  all  my  days.' 

But  now  I  rejoice  with  trembling ;  defiring  to  "  hold 
faft  what  I  have,  that  no  man  take  my  crown.'*  Yet 
fearing  that  I  fhall  find,  how 

-— '  Ere  one  fleeting  hour  is  pall, 

The  flatt'ring-  world  employs 
Some  fenfual  bait  to  feize  my  tafte, 

And  to  pollute  my  joys.' 

Yours  in  our  dear  Saviour, 
C  In 


22  Memoirs  of  the  late 

In  April,  1794,  dropping  a  few  lines  to  the  compiler 
of  thefe  Memoirs,  on  a  Lord's-day  evening,  he  thus 
concludes  : — "  We  have  had  a  good  day.  I  find,  as  a 
dear  friend  once  faid,  It  is pleafant /peaking  for  God  when 
<we  walk  with  him.  Oh  for  much  of  Enoch's  fpirit  ! 
The  Head  of  the  church  grant  it  to  my  dear  brother, 
and  his  affectionate  friend, 

S.P." 


In  another  letter  to  Mr.  Summers,  dated  June  24, 
1794,  he  thus  writes: — "We,  my  friend,  have  entered 
on  a  correfpondence  of  heart  with  heart,  and  muft  not 
lofe  fight  of  that  avowed  object.  I  thank  you  fincerely 
for  continuing  the  remembrance  of  fo  unworthy  a^crea- 
ture  in  your  intercourfe  with  Heaven  ;  and  I  thank  that 
facred  Spirit,  whofe  quickening  influences,  you  fay,  you 
enjoy  in  the  exercife.  Yes,  my  brother,  I  have  reaped 
the  fruits  of  your  fupplications.  I  have  been  indulged 
with  fome  feafons  of  unufual  joy,  tranquil  as  folitude, 
and  folid  as  the  rock  on  which  our  hopes  are  built.  In 
public  exercifes,  peculiar  affiftance  has  been  afforded ; 
efpecially  in  thefe  three  things : — The  exaltation  of  the 
Redeemer's  glory  ;  the  detection  of  the  crooked  ways, 
falfe  refuges,  and  felf  delufions  of  the  human  heart  \ 
and  the  ftirring  up  of  the  faints  to  prefs  onward,  mak- 
ing God's  caufe  their  own,  and  confidering  themfelves 
as  living  not  for  themfelves,  but  for  Him  alone. 

"  Nor  hath  the  word  been  without  its  effect  $  above 
fifty  have  been  added  to  our  church  this  year,  mod  of 
whom  I  rejoice  in  as  the  feals  of  my  miniftry  in  the 
Lord.  Indeed  I  am  furrounded  with  goodnefs  ;  and 
fcarce  a  day  pafles  over  my  head,  but  I  fay,  were  it  not 
for  an  ungrateful  heart  I  fhould  be  the  happieft  man 
alive  •,  and  that  excepted,  I  neither  expe£l  nor  wifh  to 
be  happier' in  this  w^orld.  My  wife,  my  children,  and 
myfelf  are  uninterruptedly  healthy  j  my  friends  kind  •, 

my 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  23 

my  foul  at  reft  ;  my  labours  fuccefsful,  &c.  Who 
(hould  be  content  and  thankful,  if  I  fhould  not  ?  Oh 
my  brother,  help  me  to  praife  ! 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Pearce,  from  Plymouth,  dated 
Sept.  2,  1794,  the  dark  fide  of  the  cloud  feems  towards 
him  : — l€  I  have  felt  much  barrennefs,  fays  he,  as  to  fpir- 
itual  things  fince  I  have  been  here,  compared  with  my 
ufual  frame  at  home  *,  and  it  is  a  poor  exchange  to  en- 
joy the  creature  at  the  expenie  of  the  Creator's  pretence  : 
A  few  feafons  of  fpirituality  I  have  enjoyed  ;    but  my 
heart,  my  inconftant  heart  is  too  prone  to  rove  from  its 
proper  centre.    Pray  for  me,  my  dear,  my  dearefl  friend  ! 
I  do  for  you  daily.     Oh  wreille   for  me,   that  I    1 
have  more  of  Enoch's  (pint  !  I  am  fully  perfuaded  that 
a  Chriftian  is  no  longer  really  happy,  and  inwardly  fat- 
isfied,  than  whilft  he  walks  with  God  ;    and  I  would 
this  moment  rejoice  to  abandon  every  pleafure  here  for  a 
clofer  walk  with  him.     I  cannot,  amidil  all  the  round  of 
fecial  pleafure,  amidft  the  mod  inviting  fcenes  of  nature, 
feel  that  peace  with  God  which  pafTeth  underflanding. 
My  thirft  for  preaching  Chrift,  I  fear,  abates,  and  a  de- 
teftable  vanity  for  the  reputation  of  a  "  good  preacher" 
(as  the  world  terms  it)  has  already  coft  me  many  conflicts. 
Daily  I  feel  convinced  of  the  propriety  of  a  remark  which 
my  friend  Summers  made  on  his  journey  to  Wales,  that 
"It  is  eafier  for  a  Chriftian  to  walk  habitually  near  to 
God,  than  to  be  irregular  in  our  walk  with  him."     But 
I  want  refolution  \  I  want  a  contempt  for  the  world  •,  I 
want  more  heavenly-mindednefs  •,    I  want  more  humil- 
ity •,  I  want  much,  very  much  of  that,  which  God  alone 
can  beftow.     Lord,  help  the  weakeft  lamb  in  all  thy 
flock  ! 

"  I  preached  this  evening  from  Cant.  ii.  3.  I  fat  down 
under   his  jhado%u  with  great  delight,  and  his  fruit  was 

fweet 


24  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fiveet  to  my  tafte.  But  how  little  love  for  my  Saviour 
did  I  feel !  With  what  little  affe£Hon  and  zeal  did  I 
fpeak  !  I  am,  by  fome,  praifed.  I  am  followed  by  ma- 
ny. I  am  refpefted  by  molt  of  my  acquaintance.  But 
all  this  is  nothing  ;  yea,  lefs  than  nothing,  compared 
with  poflefling  «  this  teftimony,  that  Ipleafe  God."  Oh 
thou  Friend  of  finners,  humble  me  by  repentance,  and 
melt  me  down  with  love* 

"  To-morrow  morning  I  fet  off  for  Launceflon.  I 
write  to  night,  left  my  flay  in  Cornwall  might  make  my 
delay  appear  tedious  to  the  dear  and  deferring  obje£l 
of  my  moft  undiflembled  love*  Oh  my  Sarah,  had  I 
as  much  proof  that  I  love  Jefus  Chr\fl^  as  I  have  of  my 
love  to  you%  I  fhould  prize  it  more  than  rubies  !  As  often 
as  you  can  find  an  hour  for  correfpondence,  think  of 
your  more  than  ever  affectionate 

S.  P." 


In  another  to  Mr.  Summers,  dated  Nov.  10,  i794> 
he  fays — "I  fuppofe  I  (halt  vifit  London  in  the  Spring. 
Prepare  my  way  by  communion  both  with  God  and 
man.  I  hope  your  foul  profpers.  I  have  enjoyed  more 
of  God  within  this  month  than  ever  fince  the  day  of 
my  efpoufals  with  him.  Oh  my  brother,  help  me  to 
praife  !  I  cannot  fay  that  I  am  quite  fo  exalted  in  my 
frame  to-day ;  yet  (till  I  acknowledge  what  I  have  lived 
upon  for  weeks, — That  were  there  no  being  or  thing 
in  the  univerfe,  befide  God  and  me,  I  (hould  be  at  no 
lofs  for  happinefs.     Oh  ! 

'  *Tis  heav'n  to  reft  in  his  embrace, 
And  no  where  eil'e  but  there.' 

s.  P." 

HYMN 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearcc*  25 

HYMN 

By  Mr.  PeArce,  foon  after  his  Converfton. 


0  HOW  fweet  it  is  to  me, 
'Fore  my  gracious  Lord  to  fall, 
Talk  with  him  continually, 
Make  my  bleffed  Jefus  all. 

2 
Other  pleafures  I  have  fought, 
Try'd  the  world  a  thoufand  times  ; 
Peace  purfu'd,  but  found  it  not, 
For  I  ftill  retain'd  my  crimes. 

3 
Never  could  my  heart  be  blefs'd, 
Till  from  guilt  I  found  it  freed  ; 
Jefus  now  has  me  releas'd  ; 

1  in  him  am  free  indeed. 

4 
Saviour,  bind  me  to  thy  crofs, 
Let  thy  love  poffefs  my  heart ; 
All  befides  I  count  but  drofs  : 
Chrift  and  I  will  never  part. 

5 
In  his  blood  fuch  peace  I  findj 
In  his  love  fach  joy  is  giv'n  ; 
He  who  is  to  Jefus  joinM, 
Finds  on  earth  a  little  keav'ik 

C  z  The 


z6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

The  following  lines  appear  to  have  been  written  foon 
after,  if  not  before,  his  entrance  on  thz  work  of  the 
miniftry  : — 


^'■^^<<^<0)  <^H 


EXCITEMENT  TO   EARLY  DUTY 

OR, 

The  LorcTs-day  Morning. 


WHENE'ER  I  look  into  thy  word, 
And  read  about  my  deareft  Lord, 

The  Friend  of  finful  man  ; 
And  trace  my  Saviour's  footfteps  there. 
What  humble  love,  what  holy  fear 

Through  all  his  conduct  ran  I 

If  I  regard  the  matchlefs  grace 
He  fhew'd  unto  the  human  race, 

How  he  for  them  became 
A  poor  fojourner  here  below, 
Opprefs'd  by  pain  and  forrow  too* 

I  can't  but  lave  his  name. 

And  when  I  view  his  love  to  God, 
Thofe  fleps  in  which  the  Saviour  trod, 

I  long  to  tread  them  too ; 
I  long  to  be  infpir'd  with  zeal 
To  execute  my  Father's  will, 

As  Jefus  us'd  to  do- 

I  read  that  he,  on  duty  bent, 
To  lonely  places  often  went, 

To  feek  his  Father  there  : 
The  early  morn  and  dewy  ground 
Can  witnefs,  they  the  Saviour  found 

Engag'd  \u  fervent  pray'r. 

5  And 


Air.  Samuel  Pearce.  2? 

5  And  did  my  Saviour  ufe  to  pray* 
Before  the  light  unveil'd  the  day  ? 

And  (Kail  I  backward  be  ? 
No,  deareft  Lord,  forbid  the  thought  £ 
Help  me  to  fight,  as  Jefus  fought, 

Each  foe  that  hinders  me. 

6  And  you,  my  friends,  who  love  his  name>. 
Who  Jove  to  imitate  the  Lamb, 

And  more  of  Jefus  know  ; 
Come,  let  us  all  furround  his  throne, 
And  fee  what  bleflings  on  his  own 

Our  Saviour  will  beftow.. 

7  Though  fears  be  great,  temptations  ftron^, 
And  though  we  oft  have  waited  long, 

Perhaps  he  may  defign 
This  morn  to  give  each  foul  to  fee, 
And  fay  with  Paul,  "'He  dy*d  for  me,9* 

And  my  Redeemer's  mine. 

8  Now  cheerfuf  we'll  begin  to  pray, 
That  he  will  warn  our  fins  away 

In  his  atoning  blood  ; 
That  he  his  bleffing  may  beftow, 
And  give  each  finner  here  to  know. 

That  he's  a  child  of  God. 


On  the  Scriptures* 


i  STUPENDOUS  love  in  Chrift  doth  dwell* 
Love  which  no  mortal  tongue  can  tell  ; 
But  yet  fo  gracious  is  the  Lord, 
He  tells  his  people  in  his  word* 

2  Here,  in  thofe  lines  of  love,  I  fee 
What  Chrift  my  Saviour  did  for  me  '» 
Here  I  behold  the  wondrous  plan 
By  which  he  faves  rebellious  man. 

3  Here 


28  Memoirs  of  the  late 

3  Here  we  may  view  the  Saviour,  Goi>, 
Opprefs'd  by  pain,  o'erwhelm'd  with  blood  ; 
And  if  we  afk  the  reafon,  why  ? 

He  kindly  fays,  "  For  you  1  die." 

4  Here  love  and  mercy,  truth  and  grace 
Confpicuous  fhine  in  Jefus'  face  ; 
Here  we  may  trace  the  wondrous  road, 
fey  which  a  finner  comes  to  God. 

5  O  boundlefs  grace  !  O  matchlefs  love 
That  brought  the  Saviour  from  above, 
That  caus'd  the  God  for  man  to  die, 
Expiring  in  an  agony. 

6  Then  fay,  my  foul,  canft  thou  engage 
In  tracing  o'er  the  facred  page, 
And  there  his  love  and  mercy  fee, 
And  not  love  him  who  dy'd  for  thee  i 

7  O  ftupid  heart  !   O  wretched  foul ! 
So  cold,  fo  languid,  and  fo  dull  ; 
Angels  defire  this  love  to  know, 
O  may  I  feel  thefe  longings  too  ! 

8  Defcend,  thou  Spirit  of  the  Lord, 
Thy  light,  and  help,  and  grace  afford  ; 
And,  while  I  read  thefe  pages  o'er, 
Conftrain  my  foul  to  love  thee  more. 


CHAP, 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce*  29 


CHAP.    n. 

HIS    LABORIOUS   EXERTIONS    IN     PROMOTING    MISSIONS    T0» 

THE     HEATHEN,    AND    OFFERING     HIMSELF 

TO    BECOME    A    MISSIONARY, 

Mr.  PEARCE  has  been  uniformly  the  fpir- 
itual  and  the  active  fervant  of  Ghrift  ;  but  neither  his- 
fpirituality  nor  his  activity  would  have  appeared  in  the 
manner  they  have,  but  for  his  engagements  in  the  intro- 
duction of  the  gof  pel  among  the  heathen* 

It  was  not  long  after  his  fettlement  at  Birmingham, 
that  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Caret,  in  whom 
he  found  a  foul  nearly  akin  to  his  own-  When  the 
brethren  in  the  counties  of  Northampton  and  Leicefter 
formed  themfelves  into  a  Miflionary  Society  at  Ketter- 
ing, in  October,  1792,  he  was  there,  and  entered  into 
thebufinefs  with  all  his  heart.  On  hisreturn  to  Birming- 
ham, he  communicated  the  fubject  to  his-  congregation 
with  fo  much  effect,  that  to  the  fmall  fum  of  £  13:2:6, 
with  which  the  fub"«;ription  was  begun,  was  added 
£70,  which  was  collected  and  tranfmitted  to  the 
Treafurer  5  and  the  leading  members  of  the  churcli 
formed  themfelves  into-  an  Afliitant  Society.  Early  in 
the  following  Spring,  when  it  was  refolved  that  our 
brethren,  Thomas  and  Carey,  fiiould  go  on  a  million  to- 
the  Hindoos,  and  a  confiderable  furn  of  money  was 
wanted  for  the  purpefe,  he  laboured  with  increafing 
ardour  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  when  the 
object  was  accomplished,  he  rejoiced  in  all  his  labour, 
fmiling  in  every  company,  and  blefling  God. 

During  his  labours  and  journeys,  on  this  important 
object,  he  wrote  feveral  letters  to  his  friends,  an  ex- 
tract or  two  from  which  will  difcover  the  ftate  of  his 
mind  at  this  period,  as  well  as  the  encouragements  that 
he  met  with  in  his  work  at  home  ; — 

To 


jo  Memoirs  of  the  late 


To  Mr.  STEADMAN. 

"Birmingham,  Feb.  8,   1 793. 
"  My  very  dear  Brother, 

"  UNION  of  fentiment  often  creates  friendfhip 
among  carnal  men,  and  fimilarity  of  feeling  never  fails 
to  produce  affection  among  pious  men,  as  far  as  that 
fimilarity  is  known.  I  have  loved  you  ever  fince  I 
knew  you.  We  faw,  we  felt  alike  in  the  intereiting 
concerns  of  perfonal  religion.  We  formed  a  reciprocal 
attachment.  We  expreffed  it  by  words.  We  agreed 
to  do  fo  by  correfpondence ;  and  we  have  not  altogeth- 
er been  wanting  to  cur  engagements.  But  our  corref- 
pondence has  been  interrupted,  not,  I  believe,  through 
any  diminution  of  regard  on  either  fide  ;  I  am  perfuad- 
cd  not  on  mine.  I  rather  condemn  myfelf  as  the  firfl 
aggrefibr ;  but  I  excufe  while  I  condemn,  and  fo  would 
you,  did  you  know  half  the  concerns  which  devolve 
upon  me  in  my  prefent  fituation.  Birmingham  is  a 
central  place  ;  the  inhabitants  are  numerous  j  cur  mem- 
bers are  between  three  and  four  hundred.  The  word 
preached  has  lately  been  remarkably  bleffed.  In  lefs 
than  five  months  I  baptized  nearly  forty  perfons,  almoft 
all  newly  awakened.  Next  Lord's-day  week  I  expeft 
to  add  to  their  number.  Thefe  perfons  came  to  my 
houfe  to  propofe  the  moft  important  of  all  inquiries, — 
"  What  muft  we  do  to  be  faved  ?"  I  have  been  thus  en- 
gaged forne  weeks  during  the  greatefl  part  of  moft  days. 
This,  with  four  fermons  a  week,  will  account  for  my 
neglect.  But  your  letter,  received  this  evening,  calls 
forth  every  latent  affection  of  my  heart  for  you.  We 
are,  my  dear  brother,  not  only  united  in  the  common 
ebjeel  of  purfuit,— -falvation  ;  not  only  reft  our  hopes 
on  the  fame  foundation, — Jtfus  Chrijl ;  but  we  feel 
alike  refpedling  the  poor  Heathens.  Oh  how  Chriftian- 
ity  expands  the  mind  !  What  tendernefs  for  cur  poor 
fellow-fmners  !  What  fymparhy  for  their  moral  mife- 
ry  !    What  defires  to  do  thern  everlafting  good,  doth 

it 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  31 

it  provoke  !  How  fatisfying  to  our  judgments  is  this 
evidence  of  grace  !  How  gratifying  to  our  prefent  tafte 
are  thefe  benevolent  breathings  !  Oh  how  I  love  that 
man  whofe  foul  is  deeply  affected  with  the  importance 
of  the  precious  gofpel  to  idolatrous  heathens.  Excel- 
lently, my  dear  brother,  you  obferve,  that,  great  as  its 
bleffings  are  in  the  eftimation  of  a  finner  called  in  a 
Chriftian  country,  inexprefiibly  greater  muft  they  fhine 
on  the  newly  illuminated  mind  of  a  converted  pagan. 

"  We  (hall  be  glad  of  all  your  afliftance  in  a  pecuniary 
way,  as  the  expenfe  will  be  heavy. — Dear  brother  Carey 
has  paid  us  a  vifit  of  love  this  week.  He  preached  ex- 
cellently to  night.  I  expect  brother  Thomas  next  week 
or  the  week  after.  I  wifh  yc^i  would  meet  him  here. 
I  have  a  houfe  at  your  command,  and  a  heart  greatly 
attached  to  you. 

S.  P." 


To  Mr.  FULLER. 

"FJ.13,  1793. 
"  I  AM  willing  to  go  any  where,  and  do  any 
thing  in  my  power ;  but  I  hope  no  plan  will  be  fujFered 
to  interfere  with  the  affeftingj — hoped  for, — dreaded 
day,  March  13.  (the  day  of  our  brethren,  Carey  and 
Thomas'  folemn  defignation  at  Leiceftcr.)  Oh  how  the 
anticipation  of  it  at  once  rejoices  and  affli&s  me.  Our 
hearts  need  fteeling  to  part  with  our  much-loved  breth- 
ren, who  are  about  to  venture  their  all  for  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jefus.  I  feel  my  foul  melting  within  me  when 
I  read  the  twentieth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  and  efpecially 
verfes  36 — 38.  But  why  grieve  ?  We  (hall  fee  them 
again.  Oh  yes  ;  them  and  the  children  whom  the 
Lord  will  give  them  \ — we  and  the  children  whom  the 
Lord  hath  given  us.  We  {hall  meei:  again,  not  to  weep 
and  pray,  but  to  fmite  and  praife. 

S.  P." 

FROM 


3  a  Memoirs  of  the  late 

TROM  the  day  of  the  departure  of  the  Miflionaries, 
no  one  was  more  importunate  in  prayer  than  Mr.  Pearce ; 
and  on  the  news  of  their  fafe  arrival,  no  one  was  more 
filled  with  joy  and  thankfulnefs* 

Hitherto  we  had  witnefled  his  zeal  in  promoting  this 
important  undertaking  at  home ;  but  this  did  not  fatisfy 
him.  In  O&ober,  1 794,  we  were  given  to  underftand 
that  he  had  for  fome  time  had  it  in  ferious  contempla- 
tion to  go  himfelf,  and  to  caft  in  his  lot  with  his  breth- 
ren in  India.  When  his  defigns  were  firft  difcovered, 
his  friends  and  connexions  were  much  concerned  about 
it,  and  endeavoured  to  perfuade  him  that  he  was  already 
in  a  fphere  of  ufefulnefs  too  important  to  be  relinquifh- 
ed.  But  his  anfwer  was,  that  they  were  too  interefted 
in  the  affair  to  be  competent  judges.  And  nothing 
would  fatisfy  him  fhort  of  his  making  a  formal  offer  of 
"his  fervices  to  the  Committee  :  nor  could  he  be  happy 
for  them  to  decide  upon  it,  without  their  appointing  a 
day  of  folemn  prayer  for  the  purpofe,  and,  when  aflem- 
bled,  hearing  an  account  of  the  principal  exercifes  of 
his  mind  upon  the  fubje£t,  with  the  reafons  which  in- 
duced him  to  make  the  propofal,  as  well  as  the  reafons 
alleged  by  his  connexions  againfl  it. 

On  0£lober  4,  1794,  he  wrote  to  an  intimate  friend, 
of  whom  he  entertained  a  hope  that  he  might  accom- 
pany him,  as  follows : — 

"Laft  Wednefday  I  rode  to  Northampton,  where  a 
:minifters,  meeting  was  held  on  the  following  day.  We 
talked  much  about  the  million.  We  read  fome  frefh 
and  very  encouraging  accounts.  We  lamented  that 
we  could  obtain  no  fuitable  perions  to  fend  out  to  the 
afliftance  of  our  brethren.  Now  what  do  you  think 
-was  faid  at  this  meeting  ?  My  dear  brother  !  do  not 
he  furprized  that  all  prefent  united  in  opinion,  that  in 
,all  our  connexion  there  was  no  man  known  to  us  fo 

fuitable 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearcc.  33 

fuitable  as  jou%  provided  you  were  difpofed  for  it,  and 
things  could  be  brought  to  bear.  I  thought  it  right  to 
mention  this  circumftance ;  and  one  thing  more  I  can- 
not refrain  from  faying,  that  were  it  manifeftly  the  will 
of  God,  I  Ihould  call  that  the  happieft  hour  of  my  life, 
which  witnefled  our  both  embarking  with  our  families 
on  board  one  fhip,  as  helpers  of  the  fervants  of  Jefus 
Chrift  already  in  Hindoftan.  Yes  •,  I  could  unreluc- 
untly  leave  Europe  and  all  its  contents  for  the  pleafures 
and  perils  of  this  glorious  fervice.  Often  my  heart  in 
the  fmcereft  ardours  thus  breathes  forth  its  defires  unto 
God, — "  Here  am  I,  fend  me."  But  I  am  ignorant 
whether  you  from  experience  can  realize  my  feelings. 
Perhaps  you  have  friendfhip  enough  for  me  to  lay  open 
your  meditations  on  this  fubject  in  your  next.  If  you 
have  had  half  the  exercifes  that  I  have,  it  will  be  a  relief 
to  your  labouring  mind  :  or  if  you  think  I  have  made  too 
free  with  you,  reprove  me,  and  I  will  love  you  ftill. 
Oh  if  I  could  find  a  heart  that  had  been  tortured  and 
ravifhed  like  my  own  in  this  refpect,  I  fhould  form  a 
new  kind  of  alliance,  and  feel  a  friendfhip  of  a  novel 
fpecies.  With  eagernefs  fhould  I  communicate  all  the 
viciffitudes  of  my  fenfations,  and  with  eagernefs  liften 
to  a  recital  of  kindred  feelings.  With  impatience  I 
ihould  feek,  and  with  gratitude  receive  direction  and 
fupport,  and,  I  hope,  feel  a  new  occafion  of  thankfulnefs, 
when  I  bow  my  knee  to  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the 
God  of  all  comfort.  Whence  is  it  that  I  thus  write  to 
you,  as  I  have  never  written  to  any  one  before  ?  Is  there 
a  fellowfhip  of  the  Spirit ;  or  is  it  the  confidence  that  I 
have  in  your  friendfhip  that  thus  directs  my  pen  ?  Tell 

me,  dear !  Tell  me  how  you  have  felt,  and  how 

you  ftill  feel  on  this  interefting  fubje£t,  and  do  not  long 
delay  the  gratification  to  your  very  affectionate  friend 
2nd  brother, 

S.  P." 

D  About 


I  / 


34  Memoirs  of  the  late 

About  a  month  preceding  the  decifion  of  this  affair, 
he  drew  up  a  narrative  of  his  experience  -refpe&ing  it ; 
refolving  at  the  fame  time  ,to  fet  apart  one  day  in  every 
week  for  fecret  failing  and  prayer  to  God  for  direction  \ 
and  to  keep  a  diary  of  the  exercifes  of  his  mind  during 
the  month. 

When  the  Committee  were  met  at  Northampton  ac- 
cording to  his  defire,  he  prefented  to  them  the  narra- 
tive 5  and  which  was  as  follows  : — 

u  O&ober  8,  1 794.  Having  had  fome  peculiar  ex- 
ercifes of  mind  relative  to  my  personally  attempting  to 
labour  for  the  dear  Redeemer  amongft  the  heathen  ;  and 
being  at  a  lofs  to  know  what  is  the  will  of  the  Lord 
in  this  matter  refpe&ing  me,  I  have  thought  that  I 
might  gain  fome  fatisfa&ion  by  adopting  thefe  two  reftv 
lutions  > — Firft,  That  I  will,  as  in  the  prefence  of  God, 
faithfully  endeavour  to  recolle£l  the  various  workings 
of  my  mind  on  this  "fubjedl,  from  the  firft  period  of  my 
feeling  any  defire  of  this  nature,  until  now,  and  com- 
mit  them  to  writing ;  together  with  what  confiderations 
do  now,  on  the  one  hand,  impel  me  to  the  work,  and 
on  the  other,  what  prevent  m  efrom  immediately  refolv- 
ing to  enter  upon  it.  Secondly,  That  I  will  from  this 
day  keep  a  regular  journal,  with  fpecial  relation  to  this 
matter. 

"This  account  and  journal  will,  I  hope,  furnifft  me 
with  much  affiftance  in  forming  a  future*opinion  of  the 
path  of  duty ;  as  well  as  help  any  friends  whom  I  may 
hereafter  think  proper  to  confult,  to  give  me  fuitable 
advice  in  the  bufinefs.     Lord,  help  me  ! 

cc  It  is  very  common  for  young  converts  to  feel  ftrong 
defires  for  the  converfion  of  others.  Thefe  defires  im- 
mediately followed  the  evidences  of  my  own  religion  : 
and  I  remember  well  they  were  particularly  fixed  upon 

the 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.      ,  35 

the  poor  heathens.  I  believe  the  firft  week  that  I  knew 
the  grace  of  God  in  truth,  I  put  up  many  fervent  cries 
to  Heaven  in  their  behalf  •,  and  at  the  fame  time  felt  a 
ftrong  defire  to  be  employed  in  promoting  their  falva- 
fion.  It  was  not  long  after,  that  the  firft  iettlers  failed 
for  Botany  Bay.  I  longed  to  go  with  them,  although 
in  company  with  the  convi&s,  in  hopes  of  making 
known  the  bleffings  of  the  great  falvation  in  New  Zea- 
land. I  actually  had  thought  of  making  an  effort  to  go 
out  unknown  to  my  friends  ',  but  ignorant  how  to  pro- 
ceed, I  abandoned  my  purpofe.  Neverthelefs  I  could 
not  help  talking  about  it  *  and  at  one  time  a  report  was 
circulated  that  I  was  really  going,  and  a  neighbouring 
minifter  very  feriouily  converted  with  me  upon  the 
fubjea. 

M  While  I  was  at  the  Brlftol  Academy  ,the  defire  re- 
mained -,  but  not  with  that  energy  as  at  firft,  except  on 
one  or  two  occafio.ns.  Being  fent  by  my  tutor  to  preach 
two  Sabbaths  at  Coldford,  I  felt  panic uiar  fweetnefs  in 
devoting  the  evenings  of  the  week  to  going  from  houfe 
to  houfe  among  the  colliers,  who  dwell  in  the  Forefl  of 
DeaMy  adjoining  the  town,  converfing  and  praying  with 
them,  and  preaching  to  them.  In  thefe  exercifes  I 
found  the  moft  folid  iatisfa£tion  that  I  have  ever  known 
in  difcharging  the  duties  of  my  calling.  In  a  poor  hut, 
with  a  ftone  to  {land  upon,  and  a  three-legged  ftool  for 
my  defk,  furrounded  with  thirty  or  forty  of  the  fmutty 
neighbours,  I  have  felt  fuch  an  u  nation  from  above, 
that  my  whole  auditory  have  been  melted  into  tears, 
whilft  diretted  to  the  Lamb  of  Gody  who  taketh  away 
the  fin  of  the  world  ;  and  I,  weeping  among  them,  could 
fcarcely  fpeak,  or  they  hear,  for  interrupting  fighs  and 
fobs.  Many  a  time  did  I  then  think,  Thus  it  was  with 
the  apoftles  of  our  Lord,  when  they  went  from  houfe 
to  houfe  among  the  poor  heathen.  In  work  like  this, 
I  could  live  and  die.  Indeed,  had  I  at  that  time  been 
at  liberty  to  fettle,  I  fhould  have  preferred  that  fitua- 

tion 


^6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

tion  to  any  in  the  kingdom  with  which  I  was  then  ac- 
quainted. 

<c  But  the  Lord  placed  me  in  a  fituation  very  differ- 
ent. He  brought  me  to  Birmingham  ;  and  here, 
amongft  the  novelties,  cares,  and  duties  of  my  ftation, 
I  do  not  remember  any  wifh  for  foreign  fervice,  till 
after  a  refidence  of  fome  months  I  heard  Dr.  Coke 
preach  at  one  of  Mr.  Wefley's  chapels,  from  Pfalm  Ixviii. 
3  r .  Ethiopia  jhall  foon  J! retch  cut  her  hands  unto  Gcd. 
Then  it  was,  that,  in  Mr.  Home's  phrafe,  "  I  felt  a  pai- 
fion  for  miflions."  Then  I  felt  an  intereft  in  the  ftate 
of  the  heathen  world  far  more  deep  and  permanent  than 
before,  and  ferioufly  thought  how  I  could  bell  promote 
their  obtaining  the  knowledge  cf  the  crucified  Jefus. 

"  As  no  way  at  that  time  was  open,  I  cannot  fay  that 
I  thought  of  taking  a  part  of  the  good  work  among  the 
heathen  abroad  \  but  refolved  that  I  would  render  them 
all  the  alTiftance  I  could  at  home.  My  mind  was  em- 
ployed during  the  refidue  of  that  week  in  meditating  on 
Vfalm  Ixvii.  3.  Glorious  things  are  fpoken  of  thee ,  0  city  cf 
God ,- — and  the  next  Sabbath  morning  I  fpoke  from  thole 
words,  On  the  promifed  increafe  of  the  church  of  God. 
I  had  obferved  that  our  monthly  meetings  for  prayer 
had  been  better  attended  than  the  other  prayer-meetings, 
from  the  time  that  I  firft  knew  the  people  in  Cannon- 
flreet :  but  I  thought  a  more  general  attention  to  them  was 
defirable.  I  therefore  preached  on  the  Sabbath-day  even- 
ing preceding  the  next  monthly  prayer-meeting,  from 
Matt.  vi.  10.  Thy  kingdom  come  ;  and  urged  with  ardcur 
and  affection  a  univerfal  union  of  the  ferious  part  of 
the  congregation  in  this  exercife.  It  rejoiced  me  to  fee 
three  times  as  many  the  next  night  as  ufual  ;  and  for 
fome  time  after  that,  I  had  nearly  equal  caufe  for  joy. 

"  As  to  my  own  part,  I  continued  to  preach  much 
upon  the  promifes  of  Gcd  refpe&ing  the  converfion  of 

the 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  37 

the  heathen  nations  \  and  by  fo  doing,  and  always  com- 
municating to  my  people  every  piece  of  information  I 
could  obtain  refpefting  the  prefent  (late  of  millions,  they 
foon  imbibed  the  fame  fpirit :  and  from  that  time  to  this 
they  have  difcovered  fo  much  concern  for  the  more  ex- 
tensive fpread  of  the  gofpel,  that  at  our  monthly  prayer- 
meetings,  both  {tated  and  occafional,  I  fhould  be  as  much 
furprifed  at  the  cafe  of  the  heathen  being  omitted  in 
any  prayer,  as  at  an  omiffion  of  the  name  and  merits  o£ 
Jefus. 

"  Indeed  it  has  been  a  frequent  mean  of  enkindJing 
my  languid  devotion,  in  my  private,  domeftic,  and  pub- 
lic engagements  in  prayer.  When  I  have  been  barren 
in  petitioning  for  myfelf,  and  other  things,  often  have  I 
been  fweetiy  enlarged  when  I  came  to  notice  the  fitua- 
tion  of  thofe  who  were  perifhing  for  lack  of  knowledge. 

u  Thus  I  went  on  praying,  and  preaching,  ancf  con- 
yerfing  on  the  fubjecT:,  till  the  time  of  brother  Careys 
ordination  at  Leicefter,  May  24,  1791.  On  the  even- 
ing of  that  day,  he  read  to  the  minifters  a  great  part  of 
his  manufcript,  fince  publiihed  5  entitled,  An  Inquiry 
into  the  obligations  of  Christians  to  ufe  means  for  the  conver- 
fwn  of  the  heathens.  This  added  frefh  fuel  to  my  zeal. 
But  to  pray  and  preach  on  the  fubje£fc  was  all  I  could 
then  think  of  doing.  But  when  I  heard  of  a  propofed 
meeting  at  Kettering*  Oft.  2,  1792,  for  the  exprefs  pur- 
pofe  of  confidering  our  duty  in  regard  of  the  heathen,  I 
could  not  refift  my  inclination  for  going  *  although  at  that 
time  I  was  not  much  acquainted  with  the  minifters  of 
the  Northamptonshire  aflbchtion.  There  I  got  my 
judgment  informed,  and  my  heart  increafingly  intereft- 
ed.  I  returned  home  refolved  to  lay  myfelf  out  in  the 
caufe.  The  public  fteps  I  have  t.  ken  are  too  well  known, 
to  need  repeating  :.  but  my  mind  became  now  inclined 
to  go  among  the  heathen  myfelf.  Yet  a  confiderarion 
©f  my  connexions  with  the  dear  people  of  God  in  Bir- 
D  2  mingham, 


38  Memoirs  cf  the  late 

mingham,  reftrained  my  defires,  and  kept  me  from  nam- 
ing my  wifhes  to  any  body,  (as  I  remember)  except  to 
brother  Carey.  With  him  I  was  pretty  free.  We  had 
an  interefting  converfation  about  it  juft  before  he  left 
Europe.  I  (hall  never  forget  the  manner  of  his  faying, 
«  Well,  you  will  come  after  us."  My  heart  faid,  Amen  ! 
and  my  eagernefs  for  the  work  increafed  \  though  I 
never  talked  freely  about  it,  except  to  my  wife,  and  we 
both  then  thought  that  my  relation  to  the  church  in 
Cannon-ftreet,  and  ufefulnefs  there,  forbad  any  fuch  an 
attempt.  However,  I  have  made  it  a  conftant  matter  of 
prayer,  often  begging  of  God,  as  I  did  when  firft  I  was 
difpofed  for  the  work  of  the  miniftry,  either  that  he 
would  take  away  the  defire,  or  open  a  door  for  its  fulfil- 
ment. And  the  refult  has  uniformly  been,  that  the 
more  fpiritual  I  have  been  in  the  frame  of  my  mind,  the 
more  love  I  have  felt  for  God  \  and  the  more  commun- 
ion I  have  enjoyed  with  him,  fo  much  the  more  difpofed 
have  I  been  to  engage  as  a  miflionary  among  the  heathen. 

w  Until  the  accounts  came  of  our  brethren's  entrance 
on  the  work  in  India,  my  connexions  in  Europe  pretty 
nearly  balanced  my  defire  for  going  abroad  \  and  though 
I  felt  quite  devoted  to  the  Lord's  will  and  work,  yet  I 
thought  the  fcale  rather  preponderated  on  the  fide  of 
my  abiding  in  my  prefent  fituation. 

«  But  fince  our  brethren's  letters  have  informed  us 
that  there  are  fuch  profpe&s  of  ufefulnefs  in  Hindoftan, 
— that  priefts  and  people  are  ready  to  hear  the  word, — 
and  that  preachers  are  a  thoufand  times  more  wanted, 
than  people  to  preach  to,  my  heart  has  been  more  deeply 
affe&ed  than  ever  with  their  conditon  ;  and  my  defires 
for  a  participation  of  the  toils  and  pleafures,  croflfes  and 
comforts  of  which  they  are  the  fubjeds,  are  advanced 
to  an  anxiety  which  nothing  can  remove,  and  time  feems 
to  increafe. 

"It 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  39 

"It  has  pleafed  God  alfo  lately  to  teach  me  more 
than  ever,  that  Himseijf  is  the  fountain  of  happinefs  \ 
that  likenefs  to  him,  friendfhip  for  him,  and  communion 
with  him,  form  the  bafis  of  all  true  enjoyment ;  and 
that  this  can  be  attained  as  well  in  an  eaitern  jungle, 
amongit  Hindoos  and  Moors,  as  in  the  mod  polifhed 
parts  of  Europe.  The  very  difpofitio?i>  which,  bleiTed  be 
my  dear  Redeemer  !  he  has  given  me,  to  be  any  tiling, 
do  any  thing,  or  endure  any  thing,  lb  that  his  name 
might  he  glorified, 1  fay,  the  difpofition  itfelf  is  heav- 
en begun  below  !  I  do  feel  a  daily  panting  after  more 
devotednefs  to  his  fervice,  and  I  can  never  think  of  my 
fuffering  Lord,  without  diffolving  into  love  ;  love  which, 
conftrains  me  to  glorify  him  with  my  body  and  fpirit> 
which  are  his. 

"I  do  often  rcprefent  to  myfelf  all  the  poflible  hard- 
ships of  a  million,  arifing  from  my  own  heart,  the  na- 
ture of  the  country,  domeftic  connexions,  disappoint- 
ment in  my  hopes,  &c.  &c.  :  And  then  I  fet  over  againfl 
them  all,  thefe  two  thoughts, — lam  God V fervanf /  and 
God  is  my  friend*  In  this,  I  anticipate  happinefs  in.  the. 
midft  of  fuffering,  light  in  darknefs,  and  life  in  death. 
Yea,  I  do  not  count  my  life  dear  unto  myfelf,  fo  that  I 
may  win  fome  poor  heathens  unto  Chrift  •,  and  I  am 
willing  to  be  offered  as  a  facriflce  on  the  fervice  of  the 
faith  of  the  gofpel.. 

"  Mr.  Home  juftly  obferves,  c  that,  in  order  to  juftifyr 
a  man's  undertaking  the  work  of  a  miffionary,  he  ihould 
be  qualified  for  it,  difpofed  heartily  to  enter  upon  it, 
and  free  from  fuch  ties  as  exclude  an  engagement.' — 
As  to  the  flrft,  others  muft  judge  for  me  *,  but  they 
mud  not  be  men  who  have  an  intereft  in  keeping  me 
at  home.  I  fhall  rejoice  in  opportunities  of  attaining 
to  an  acquaintance  with  the  ideas  of  judicious  and  im- 
partial men  in  this  matter,  and  with  them  I  mufbleaYe. 
it.     A  willingnefs  to  embark  in  this  caufe  I  do  pofTefs  5, 

and 


4-0  Memoirs  of  the  late 

and  I  can  hardly  pcrfuade  myfelf  that  God  has  for  ten 
years  inclined  my  heart  to  this  work,  without  having 
any  thing  for  me  to  do  in  it.  But  the  third  thing  re- 
quires more  confideration  ;  and  here  alone  I  hefitate." — 
Here  he  goes  on  to  ftate  all  the  objections  from  this 
quarter,  with  his  anfwere  to  them,  leaving  it  with  his 
brethren  to  decide  when  they  had  heard  the  whole. 

The  Committee,  after  the  moft  ferious  and  mature 
deliberation,  though  they  were  fully  fatisfied  as  to  broth- 
er Pearce's  qualifications,  and  greatly  approved  of  his 
fpirit,  yet  were  unanimouily  of  opinion  that  he  ought  not 
to  go ;  and  that  not  merely  on  account  of  his  connexions 
at  home,  which  might  have  been  pleaded  in  the  cafe  of 
brother  Carey,  but  on  account  of  the  million  itfelf,  which 
required  his  affiflance  in  the  ftation  which  he  already 
occupied. 

In  this  opinion,  brother  Carey  himfelf,  with  lingular 
difintereftednefs  of  mind,  afterwards  concurred  ;  and 
wrote  to  brother  Pearce  to  the  fame  effect.* 

On  receiving  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  he  im- 
mediately wrote  to  Mrs.  P ,  as  follows  : — 

"  Northampton,  Nov.  13,  17 94* 
**  My  deaf  Sarah, 

"  I  AM  difappomted,  but  not  difmayed.  I  ever 
wifh  to  make  my  Saviour's  will  my  own.  I  am  more 
fatisfied  than  ever  I  expe&ed  I  (hould  be  with  a  nega- 
tive upon  my  earned  defires,  becaufe  the  bufinefs  has 
been  fo  conduced,  that,  I  thiak,  (if  by  any  means  fuch 
an  iflue  could  be  infured)  the  mind  of  Chrifl  has  been 
obtained*  My  dear  brethren  here  have  treated  the  af- 
fair with  as  much  ferioufnefs  and  affe&ion  as  I  could 
pofiibly  defire,  and,  I  think,  more  than  fo  infignificant 
a  worm  could  expefl.  After  we  had  fpent  the  former 
part  of  this  day  in  falling  and  prayer,  with  converfation 

oa> 
•  See  Periodical  Accounts,  No.  V.  p.  374. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce..  4? 

on  the  fubje£t,  till  near  two  o'clock,  brother  Potts, 
King,  and  I  retired.  We  prayed  while  the  Committee 
confulted.  The  cafe  feemed  difficult,  and  I  fuppofe 
they  were  near  two  hours  in  deciding.  At  la  ft,  time 
forced  them  to  a  point  ;  and  their  anfwer  I  inclcfe  for 
your  fatisfaftion.  Pray  take  care  of  it  y  it  wiil  ferve 
for  me  to  refer  to  when  my  mind  may  labour  beneath  a 
burden  of  guilt  another  clay.. 

I  am  my  dear  Sarah's  own 

S.-IV 

The  decilion  of  the  Committee,  though  it  rendered 
him  much  more  reconciled  to  abide  in  his  native  coun- 
try than  he  could  have  been  without  it  \  yet  did  not  in 
the  leaft  abate  his  zeal'  for  the  object.  As  he  could 
not  promote  it  abroad*  he  feemed  reiblved  to  lay  him- 
felf  out  more  for  it  at  home.  In  March,  1735,  after  a 
dangerous  illnefs,  he  fays  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Fuller- — 
"  Through  mercy  I  am  almcfl  in  a  (late  of  convales- 
cence. May  my  fpared  life  be  wholly  devoted  to  the 
fervice  of  my  dear  Redeemer.  I  do  not  care  where  I 
am,  whether  in  England  or  in  India,  fo  I  am  employed 
as  he  would  have  me  ;  but  furely  we  need  pray  hard 
that  God  would  fend  fome  more  help  to  Hindoftan." 

In  January,  1796,  when  he  was  firft  informed  by  the' 
Secretary,  of  a  young  man,  (Mr.  Fountain)  being  defir- 
ous  of  going,  of  the  character  that  was  given  of  him  by 
our  friend,  Mr.  Savage,  of  London,  and  of  a  Committee 
Meeting  being  iri  contemplation,  he  wrote  thus  in  an- 
fwer— "  Your  Letter,  jult  arrived,  put — I  was  going 
to  fay,  another  foul  into  my  little  body  ;  at  leaft  it  has 
added  new  life  to  the  foul  I  have.  I  cannot  be  con- 
tented with  the  thought  of  being  abfent  from  your  pro- 
posed meeting.     No,  no  \   I  mull  be  there,  (for  my 

own 


42  Memoirs  of  the  late 

own  fake  I  mean)  and  try  to  fing  with'  you,  <  O'er  the 
gloomy  hills  of  darknefsv"* 

In  Auguft,  the  fame  year,  having  received  a  letter 
from  India,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Fuller  as  follows — "  Broth- 
er Carey  fpeaks  in  fuch  a  manner  of  the  effects  of  the 
gofpel  in  his  neighbourhood,  as*  in  my  view  promifes  a 
fair  illu  ft  ration  of  our  Lord's  parable,  when  he  compar- 
ed the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  a  little  leaven,  hid  in  three 
meafures  of  meal,  which  infinuated  itfelf  fo  effe&ually 
as  to  leaven  the  lump  at  laft.  Blefied  be  God,  the  leav-* 
en  is  already  in  the  meal.  The  fermentation  is  begun  ; 
and  my  hopes  were  never  half  lb  ftrong  as  they  are  now, 
that  the  whole  fhall  be  effectually  leavened.     O  that 

I  WERE    THERE    TO    WITNESS    THE    DELIGHTFUL    PRO- 
CESS I    But  whither  am   I   running  ?  .  .  .  I  long    TO 

WRITE  yOU  PROM  HlNDOSTAN  !" 

On  receiving  other  Letters  from  India,  in  January, 
1797,  he  thus  writes  : — "  Perhaps  you  are  now  rejoic- 
ing in  fpirit  with  me  over  fre*h  intelligence  from  Ben- 
gal. This  moment  have  I  concluded  reading  two  let- 
ters from  brother  Thomas  :  one  to  the  Society,  and  the 
other  to  myfelf/*  He  fpeaks  of  others  from  brother 
Carey.  I  hope  they  are  already  in  your  pofieffion.  If 
his  correfpondence  has  produced  the  fame  effefts  on 
your  heart  as  brother  Thomas's  has  en  mine,  you  are 
filled  with  gladnefs  and  hope.  I  am  grieved  that  I  can- 
not convey  them  to  you  immediately.  I  long  to  wit- 
nefs  the  pleafure  their  contents  will  impart  to  all  whofe 
hearts  are  with  us.  O  that  I  were  accounted  worthy 
of  the  Lord  to  preach  the  gofpel  to  the  Booteas  r 

Being 

*  The  428  Hymn  of  Dr.  Rippon's  Selection,  frequently  fung  at  our 
Committee  Meetings. 

*  See  thefe  Letters  printed  in  Ptrhdkal  Ac;wnts%  No.  IV.  p.  294, 
301. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce. 


43 


Being  detained  from  one  of  our  miffion  meetings  by 
preparing  the  Periodical  Accounts  for  the  prefs,  he  foon, 
after  wrote  as  follows  :  4i  We  (hall  now  get  out  No.  IV, 
very  foon.  I  hope  it  will  go  to  the  prefs  in  a  very  few 
days.  Did  you  notice,  that  the  very  day  on  which  we 
invited  all  our  friends  to  a  day  cf  prayer  on  behalf  of  the 
miffion,  (Dec.  28,  1796)  was  the  fame  in  which  broth- 
er Carey  fent;  his  beft  and  moft  interefting  accounts  to 
die  Society  ?  I  hope  you  had  folemn  and  fweet  feafons  at 
Northampton.  On  many  accounts  I  fhould  have  re- 
joiced to  have  been  with  you  :  yet  I  am  fatisfied  that  on 
the  whole  I  was  doing  beft  at  home." 

It  has  been  already  obferved,  that  for  a  month  pre*- 
ceding  the  decifion  of  the  Committee,  he  refolved  to 
devote  one  day  in  every  week  to  fecret  prayer  and  fad- 
ing, and  to  keep  a  diary  of  the  exercifes  of  his  mind 
during  the  whole  of  that  period.  This  diary  was  not 
fliown  to  the  Committee  at  the  time,  but  merely  the 
preceding  narrative.  Since  his  death  a  few  of  them 
have  perufed  k  -,  and  have  been  almoft  ready  to  think, 
that  if  they  had  feen  it  before,  they  dared  not  oppofe 
his  going,  But  the  Lord  hath  taken  him  to  himfelf. 
It  no  longer  remains  a  queftion  row,  whether  he  mall 
labour  in  England  or  in  India.  A  few  paffages,  how*, 
ever,  from  this  tranfeript  of  his  heart,  while  contemplat- 
ing a  great  and  difmterefted  undertaking,  will  furnijh  a 
better  idea  of  his  character  than  could  be  given  by  any 
other  hand. 

"  OGk.  8,  1794.  Had  feme  remarkable  freedom  and 
affection  this  morning,  both  in  family  and  fecr>t 
prayer.  With  many  tears  I  dedicated  myfelf,  body  and 
foul,  to  the  fervice  of  Jefus  ;  and  earneftly  implored  full 
fatisfa&ion  refpefting  the  path  of  duty. — I  feel  a  grow- 
ing deadnefs  for  all  earthly  comforts  %  and  derive  my 

happinefs 


44  Memoirs  of  the  late 

rrappinefs  immediately  from  God  himfelf.     May  I  ftill 
endure,  as  Mofes  did,  by  feeing  Him  who  is  invifible  !" 

"  0<ft.  10.  Enjoyed  much  freedom  to-day  in  the 
family.  Whilft  noticing  in  prayer  the  ftate  of  the  mill- 
ions of  heathen  who  know  not  God,  I  felt  the  aggre- 
gate value  of  their  immortal  fouls  with  peculiar  energy. 

"  Afterwards  was  much  ftruck  whilft  (on  my  knees 
before  God  in  fecret)  I  read  the  fourth  chapter  of  Mi- 
cah.  The  ninth  verfe  I  fancied  very  applicable  to  the 
Church  in  Cannon-ftreet  :  but  what  reaion  is  there  for 
fuch  a  cry  about  fo  infignificant  a  worm  as  I  am  ?  The 
third  chapter  of  Habakkuk  too  well  exprefies  that  mix- 
ture oifolemtiity  and  confidence  with  which  I  contemplate 
the  work  of  the  miflion. 

"  Whilft  at  prayer-meeting  to  night,  I  learned  more 
of  the  meaning  of  .fome  paflages  of  fcripture  than  ever 
before.  Suitable  frames  of  foul  are  like  good  lights,  in 
which  a  painting  appears  to  its  full  advantage.  I  had 
often  meditated  on  Phil.  iii.  7,  8,  and  Gal.  vi.  14  :  but 
never  felt  crucifixion  to  the  world,  and  difefteem  for  all 
that  it  contains  as  at  that  time.  All  profpecls  of  pecu- 
niary independence,  and  growing  reputation,  with  which 
in  unworthier  moments  I  had  amufed  myfelf,  were  now 
chafed  from  my  mind  ;  and  the  defrre  of  living  nvkolU 
to  Chrifl  fwallowed  up  every  other  thought.  Frowns 
and  fmiles,  fulnefs  or  want,  honour  and  reproach,  were 
now  equally  indifferent  ;  and  when  I  concluded  the 
meeting,  my  whole  foul  felt,  as  it  were,  going  after  the 
1oft  fheep  of  Chrifl:  among  the  heathen. 

"  I  do  feel  a  growing  fatisfacVion  in  the  propofal  of 
fpending  my  whole  life  in  fomething  nobler  than  the 
locality  of  this  ifland  will  admit.  I  long  to  raife  my 
Matter':;  banner  in  climes  where  the  found  of  his  fame 

hath 


Mr.  Samuel  Peavce.  45 

hath  but  fcarcely  reached.     He  hath  faid,  for  my  en- 
couragement, that  all  nations  fivall  flow  unto  it. 

«  The  conduct  and  fuccefs  of  Stach,  Boonifh,  and 
other  Moravian  Miflionaries  in  Greenland,  both  con- 
found and  ftimulate  me.  O  Lord,  forgive  my  pail 
indolence  in  thy  fervice,  and  help  me  to  redeem  the 
refidue  of  my  days  for  exertions  more  worthy  a  friend 
of  mankind,  and  a  fervant  of  God. 

"  Oct.  13.  Being  taken  up  with  vifitors  the  former 
part  of  the  day,  I  fpent  the  after  part  in  application  to 
the  Bengal  language,  and  found  the  difficulties  I  ap- 
prehended vanifli  as  faft  as  I  encountered  them.  I 
read  and  prayed,  prayed  and  read,  and  made  no  fmall 
advances.     Bkffed  be  God  ! 

"  Oct.  15.  There  are  in  Birmingham  50,000  in- 
habitants ;  and,  exduSve  of  the  vicinity,  ten  minifters 
who  preach  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  gofpel.  In 
Hindoftan  there  are  twice  as  many  millions  of  inhabi- 
tants ;  and  not  fo  many  gofpel  preachers.  Now  Jefus 
Chrift  hath  commanded  his  minifters  to  go  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gofpel  to  every  creature  :  Why 
ihould  we  be  fo  difproportionate  in  our  labours  ?.  Pe- 
culiar circumftances  muft  not  be  urged  againfl  pofi- 
tive  commands:  I  am  therefore  bound,  if  others  do 
not  go,  to  make  the  means  more  proportionate  to  the 
multitude. 

"  To-night,  reading  fome  letters  from  brother  Ca- 
rey, in  which  he  fpeaks  of  his  wife's  illnefs  when  fhe 
firit  came  into  the  country,  I  endeavoured  to  realize 
m/feif  not  only  with  a  fick,  but  a  dead  wife.  The 
thought  was  like  a  cold  dagger  to  my  heart  at  firfl : 
but  on  recollection  I  confidered  that  the  fame  God 
ruled  in  India  as  in  Europe  ;  and  that  he  could  either 
preferve  her,  or  fupport  me,  as  well  there  as  here. 
£  My 


45 


Memoirs  of  the  late 


My  bufinefs  is  only  to  be  where  he  would  have  me. 
Other  things  I  leave  to  him.  O  Lord,  though  with 
timidity,  yet  I  hope  not  without  fatisfattion,  I  look 
every  poffible  evil  in  the  face,  and  fay,  T/jy  will  be 
done. 

"  Oft.  17.  This  is  the  firft  day  I  have  fet  apart 
for  extraordinary  devotion  in  relation  to  my  preient 
exercife  of  mind.  Rofe  earlier  than  ufual,  and  began 
the  day  in  prayer  that  God  would  be  with  me  in  eve- 
ry part  of  it,  and  grant  that  the  end  I  have  in  view 
may  be  clearly  afcertained-r— die  knowledge  of  his  will. 

"  Confidering  the  importance  of  the  work  before 
me,  I  began  at  the  foundation  of  all  religion,  and  re- 
viewed the  grounds  on  which  I  flood  ;  the  being  of  a 
a  God,  the  relation  of  mankind  to  him,  with  the  di- 
vine infpiration  of  the  fcriptures  ;  and  the  review  af- 
forded me  great  fatisfa&ion.*  I  alfo  compared  the 
different  religions  which  claimed  divine  origin,  and 
found  little  difficulty  in  determining  which  had  moft 
internal  evidence  of  its  divinity.  I  attentively  read 
and  ferioufly  confidere-d  Doddridge's  three  excellent 
Sermons  on  the  evidences  of  the  Chriitian  Religion* 
which  was  followed  by  fuch  conviction,  that  I, had 
hardly  patience  to  conclude  the  book  before  I  fell  on 
my  knees  before  God  to  blefs  him  for  fuch  a  religion, 
eftablifhed  on  fuch  a  bafis  •,  and  I  have  received  more 
(olid  fatisfa&ion  this  day  upon  the  fubjccl  than  ever  I 
did  before. 

«  I  alfo 


*  There  is  a  wide  difference  between  admitting  thefe  principles  in 
theory,  and  making  ufe  of  them.  David  might  have  worn  Saul's  ac- 
coutrements at  a  parade  :  but  in  meeting  Goliath  he  muft  go  forth  in 
an  armour  that  had  been  tried.  A  mariner  may  fit  in  his  cabin  at  his 
cafe  while  the  fhip  is  in  harbour :  but  ere  he  undertakes  a  voyage  he 
touft  examine  its  foundnefs,  and  whether  it  will  endure  the  ilcim* 
.which  may  overtake  him. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarct.  47 

"  I  alfo  confidered,  fince  the  gofpel  is  .true,  fince 
Chrift  is  the  head  of  the  church,  and  his  will  is  the^ 
law  of  all  his  followers,  what  are  the  obligations  of 
his  fervants  in  refpeft  of  the  enlargement  of  his  king- 
dom. I  here  referred  to  our  Lord's  commiffion,  which 
I  could  not  but  confider  as  univerfal  in  its  object,  and 
permanent  in  its  obligations.  I  read  brother  Carey's 
remarks  upon  it — and  as  the  command  has  never  been 
repealed  j  as  there  are  millions  of  beings  in  the  world 
on  whom  the  command  may  be  exercifed  ;  as  I  can 
produce  no  counter-revelation  ;  and  as  I  lie  under  no 
natural  impoffibilities  of  performing  it  ....  I  ( 
eluded  that  I,  as  a  fervent  of  Chrift,  was  bound  by 
this  law. 

*  I  took  the  narrative  of  my  experience,  and  ftste- 
ment  of  my  views  on  this  fubject  in  my  hand,  and 
bowing  down  before  God,  I  earneftly  befought  an 
partial  and  enlightened  fpirit.  I  then  perufed 
paper  ;  and  can  now  fay,  that  I  have  (allowing  fur 
my  own  fallibility)  not  one  doubt  upon  the  fubject, 
J  therefore  refolved  to  clofe  this  folemn  feafon  with 
reading  a  portion  of  both  Testaments,  and  earnelt 
prayer  to  God  for  my  family,  my  people,  the  heathen 
world,  the  Society,  and  particularly  for  the  fuccefs  of 
our  dear  brethren  Thomas  and  Carey,  and  his  blefl- 
ing,  prefence,  and  grace  to  be  ever  my  guide  and  glo- 
ry. Accordingly  I  read  the  xlixth  chapter  of  Ifaiah  ; 
and  with  what  fweetnefs  !  I  never  read  a  chapter  in 
private  with  fuch  feelings  fince  I  have  been  in  the 
miniftry.  The  8,  9,  10,  20,  and  21  verfes  I  thought 
remarkably  fuitable. 

u  Read  alfo  part  of  the  epiftle  to  the  Ephefians,  and 
the  firft  chapter  to  the  Philippians.  O  that  for  vie  to 
live  may  be  Gbriji  alone  !  Bleffed  be  my  dear  Saviour, 
in  prayer  I  have  had  fuch  fellowfhip  with  him,  as 
would  warm  me  in  Greenland,  comfort  me  in  New- 
Zealand, 


4  8  Memoirs  of  the  late 

Zealand,  and  rejoice  me  m  the  valley  of  the  lhadow 
of  death  ! 

rt  Oft.  1 8.  I  dreamed  that  I  faw  one  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  Hindoos*  O  how  I  loved  him  !  I  long  to  real- 
ize my  dream.  How  pleafant  will  it  be  to  fit  down 
at  the  Lord's  table  with  our  black  brethren,  and  hear 
Jefus  preached  in  their  language.  Surely  then  will 
come  to  pafs  the  faying  that  is  written,  In  Chrift 
there  is  neither  Jew  ncr  Greek,  Barbarian,  Scythian, 
bond  nor  free,  all  are  one  in  him. 

"  Have  been  happy  tc-day  in  completing  the  man- 
ufcript  of  Periodical  Accounts,  No.  I.  Any  thing 
relative  to  the  falvation  of  the  heathen  brings  a  cer- 
tain pleafure  with  it.  I  find  I  cannot  pray,  nor  con- 
verfe,  nor  read,  nor  ftudy,  nor  preach  with  fatisfac- 
tion  without  reference  to  this  fubje£l. 

M  Oft.  20.  Was  a  little  difecuraged  on  reading 
Mr.  Zeigenbald's  conferences  with  the  Malabarians, 
till  I  recollefted,  what  ought  to  be  ever  prefent  to  my 
mind  in  brother  Carey's  words, — The  ivork  is  God's. 

"  In  the  evening  I  found  fome  little  difficulty  with 
the  language  ;  but  coniidering  how  merchants  and 
captains  overcome  this  difficulty  for  the  fake  of 
wealth,  I  fat  confounded  before  the  Lord  that  I 
{hould  ever  have  indulged  fuch  a  thought  ;  and  look- 
ing up  to  him,  I  fet  about  it  with  cheerfulnefs,  and 
found  that  I  was  making  a  fenfible  advance,  although 
I  can  never  apply  till  1 1  o'clock  at  night,  on  account 
of  my  other  duties.* 

"  Preached 


*  N-ght  (Indies,  often  continued  till  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  it  is  to  be  feared,  were  the  firft  occafion  of  impairing  Mr. 
Pearct's  health,  and  brought  on  that  train  of  nervous  fenlations  with 

wiuck 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarcs.  49 

*  Preached  from  2  Kings  iv.  26,  It  is  ivelh  "Was 
much  enlarged  both  in  thought  and  expreflion.  Whilft 
fpeaking  of  the  fatisfa&ion  enjoyed  by  a  truly  pious 
mind,  when  it  feels  itfelf  in  all  circumflances  and 
times  in  the  hand  of  a  good  God,  I  felt,  that  were  the* 
univerfe  deftroyed,  and  I  the  only  being  in  it,  befide 
God,  he  is  fully  adequate  to  my  complete  happinels  ; 
and  had  I  been  in  an  African  wood,  furrounded  with 
venomous  ferpents,  devouring  beads,  and  favage  men, 
in  fuch  a  frame,  I  Ihould  be  the  fubjeft  of  perfect 
peace  and  exalted  joy.  Yes,  O  my  God,  thou  haft 
taught  me  that  thou  alone  art  worthy  of  my  confi- 
dence ;  and  with  this  fentiment  fixed  in  my  heart,  I 
am  free  from  all  folicitude  about  any  temporal  profc 
pe£ls  or  concerns.  If  thy  pre  fence  be  enjoyed,  pov- 
erty fhall  be  riches,  darknefs  light,  affliction  profperi- 
ty,  reproach  my  honour,  and  fatigue  my  reft  :  and 
thou  haft  faid,  My  prefencefoall  go  with  thee*  Enough,. 
Lord,  I  afk  for  nothing,  nothing  more. 

"  But  how  fad  the  proofs  of  our  depravity ;  and  how 
infecure  the  beft  frames  we  enjoy  !  Returning  home, 
a  wicked  expreflion  from  a  perfon  who  pafled  me, 
caught  my  ear,  and  occurred  fo  often  to  my  thoughts 
for  fome  minutes  as  to  bring  guilt  upon  my  mind,  and 
overwhelm  me  with  (hame  before  God.  But  I  ap- 
pealed to  God  for  my  hatred  of  all  fuch  things,  fe~ 
cretly  confefied  the  fin  of  my  heart,  and  again  ventur- 
ed to  the  mercy-feat.  On  fuch  occafions  how  pre- 
cious a  Mediator  is  to  the  foul- 

E  2  «  0£h> 


which  he  was  afterwards  afflicted.  Thotfgh  net  much  accuflomed 
t>  converfe  on  this  fubjed,  he  once  acknowledged  to  a  brother  in  the 
miniftry,  that,  owing  to  his  enervated  ftate,  he  fome  times  drer.de  d 
the  approach. of  public  fervices  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  he  would  rather 
have  iubmitted  to  flripes  than  engage  in  them;  and  that  while  in  the 
pulpit,  he  was  frequently  diftreiTcd  with  the  appreheofioa  of  W   \  g 


50  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  0&.  22.  I  did  not  for  the  former  part  of  the 
day  feel  my  wonted  ardour  for  the  work  of  a  Miffiona- 
ry  ;  but  rather  an  inclination  to  confult  flefh  and 
blood,  and  look  at  the  worft  fide  of  things.  I  did  fo  : 
but  when  on  my  knees  before  God  in  prayer  about  it, 
I  firft  confidered  that  my  judgment  was  ftill  equally 
fatisfied,  and  my  jconfcience  fo  convinced,  that  I  durft 
not  relinquifh  the  work  for  a  thoufand  worlds  !  And 
then  I  thought  that  this  dull  frame  had  not  been  with- 
out its  ufe  ;  as  I  was  now  fully  convinced,  that  my  de- 
fire  to  go  did  not  arife  from  any  fluctuation  of  incon- 
ftant  paflions,  but  the  fettled  convictions  of  my  judg- 
ment. I  therefore  renewed  my  vovvs  unto  the  Lord, 
that  let  what  difficulties  foever  be  in  the  way,  I  would 
(provided  the  Society  approved)  furmount  them  all. 
I  felt  a  kind  of  unutterable  fatisfa&ion  of  mind,  in 
my  refolution  of  leaving  the  decifion  in  the  hands  of 
my  brethren.  May  God  rightly  difpofe  their  hearts  ! 
I  have  no  doubt  but  he  will. 

«  Oft.  23.  Have  found  a  little  time  to  apply  to 
the  Bengallee  language.  How  pleafant  it  is  to  work 
for  God  !  Love  transforms  thorns  to  rofes,  and  makes 
pain  itfelf  a  pleafure*  I  never  fat  down  to  any  ftudy 
with  fuch  peculiar  and  continued  fatisfac"iion.  The 
thought  of  exalting  the  Redeemer  in  this  language,  is 
a  fpur  to  my  application  paramount  to  every  difcour- 
agement  for  want  of  a  living  tutor.  I  have  pafled 
this  day  with  an  abiding  fausfa&ion  refpe&ing  my 
prefent  views. 

«  Oct.  24.  O  for  the  enlightening,  enlivening, 
tmd  fanctifying  prefence  of  God  to-day  !  It  is  the 
fecond  of  thofe  days  of  extraordinary  devotion  which  I 
hav  :  fct  apart  for  feeking  God,  in  relation  to  the  Mif- 
£on-  How  (hall  I  fpend  it  ?  I  will  devote  the  morn- 
in*  to  prayer,  reading,  and  meditation  ;  and  the  af-> 
ternoon   to   vifiting  the  wretched^  and  relieving  the 

needy. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  5 1 

needy.     May  God  accept  my  fervices,  guide  me   by 
his  counfel,  and  employ  me  for  his  praife  ! 

"  Having  befought  the  Lord  that  he  would  not  fuf- 
fer  me  to  deceive  myfelf  in  fo  important  a  matter  as 
that  which  I  had  now  retired  to  confider,  and  exer- 
cifed  fome  confidence  that  he  would  be  the  rewarder 
of  thofe  who  diligently  feek  him,  I  read  the  119th 
Pfalm  at  the  conclufion  of  my  prayer,  and  felt  and 
wondered  at  the  congruity  of  lb  many  of  the  verfes  to 
the  breathings  of  my  own  heart.  Often,  with  holy  ad- 
miration, I  paufed,  and  read,  and  thought,  and  prayed 
over  the  verfe  again,  efpecially  verfes  20,  31,  59,  6c, 
112,  145,  146.  Aly  foul  breaketh  for  the  longing  that 
it  hath  unto  thy  judgments  at  all  times.  1  have  jtuck  unto 
thy  teflimonics  :   0  Lord)  put  me  not  tofname. 

«  Mod  of  the  morning  I  fpent  in  ferioufly  reading 
Mr.  Home's  Letters  en  Miffions^  having  firft  begged  of 
the  Lord  to  make  the  perufal  profitable  to  my  inftruo 
tion  in  the  path  of  duty.  To  the  interrogation, 
«  Which  of  you  will  forfake  all,  deny  himfelf,  take  up 
his  crofs,  and,  if  God  pleafes,  die  for  his  religion  V  I 
replied  fpontanecufly,  BlefTed  be  God,  I  am  willing  ! 
Lord,  help  me  to  accomplifh  it  ! 

"  Cloled  this  feafon  with  reading  the  6ift  a'nd  62d 
-chapters  of  Ifaiah,  and  prayer  for  the  Church  of  God 
at  large,  my  own  congregation,  the  heathens,  the  So- 
ciety, brethren  Thomas  and  Carey,  all  Miflionaries 
whom  God  hath  fent  of  every  denomination,  my  own 
cafe,  my  wife  and  family,  and  for  affiftance  in  my 
work. 

"  The  after  part  of  this  day  has  been  gloomy  in- 
deed. Ail  the  painful  circumftances  which  can  at- 
tend my  going  have  met  upon  my  heart,  and  formed 
a  load  almoft  infupportable.     A  number  of  things, 

which 


j  2  Memoirs  cf  the  late 

which  have  been  fome  time  accumulating,  have  united* 
their  preffure,  and  made  me  groan  being  burdened. 
Whilft  at  a  prayer-meeting  I  looked  round  on  my 
ehriftian  friends,  and  faid  to  myfelf,  A  few  months 
more  and  probably  I  ihall  leave  you  all  !  But  in  the 
deepeft  of  my  gloom,  I  refolved  though  faint  yet  to 
purfue,  not  doubting  but  my  Lord  would  give  me 
iirength  equal  to  the  day. 

w  I  had  fcarcely  formed  this  refolution  before  it  oc- 
curred, My  Lord  and  Matter  was  a  man  of  for- 
rows.  Opprefied,  and  covered  with  blood,  he  cried, 
If  it  be  poflible,  let  this  cup  pafs  from  me.  Yet  in  the 
depth  of  his  agonies  he  added,  Thy  will  be  done.  This 
thought  was  to  me  what  the  fight  of  the  crofs  was  to 
Bunyan's  pilgrim  $  I  loft  my  burden.  Spent  the  re- 
mainder of  the  meeting  in  fweet  communion  with  God. 

"  But  on  coming  home,  the  fight  of  Mrs.  P.  re- 
placed my  load.  She  had  for  fome  time  been  much 
difcouraged  at  the  thoughts  of  going.  I  therefore 
felt  reluctant  to  foy  any  thing  on  this  fubjefr,  thinking 
it  would  be  unpleafant  to  her :  but  though  I  drove  to 
conceal  it,  an  involuntary  figh  betrayed  my  uneafmefs. 
She  kindly  inquired  the  caufe.  I  avoided  at  fir  ft  an 
explanation,  till  fhe,  guefling  the  reafon,  faid  to  this 
effeft — *  I  hope  you  will  be  no  more  uneafy  on  my 
account.  For  the  laft  two  or  three  days,  I  have  been 
more  comfortable  than  ever  in  the  thought  of  going.. 
I  have  confide  red  the  fteps  you  a;re  purfuing  to  know 
the  mind  of  God,  and  I  think  you  cannot  take  more- 
proper  ones.  When  you  confult  the  minifters,  you 
fliould  reprefent  your  obfbacles  as  ftrongly  as  your  in- 
ducements ;  and  then,  if  they  advife  your  going-, 
though  the  parting  from  my  friends  will  be  almoft  in^ 
fupportabie,  yet  I  will  make  myfelf  as  happy  as  I  can, 
and  God  can  make  me  happy  any  where/ 

«  Should. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  53 

W  Should  this  little  Diary  fall  into  the  hands  of  a 
man  having  the  foul  of  a  Miilionary,  clrcumflanccd  as 
I  am,  he  will  be  the  only  man  capable  of  iharing  my 
peace,  my  joy,  my  gratitude,  my  rapture  of  foul. 
Thus  at  evening  tide  it  is  light  ;  thus  God  brings  his 
people  through  lire  and  through  water  into  a  wealthy 
place  5  thus  thofe  who  afk  do  receive,  and  their  joy  is 
full.  O  love  the  Lord,  ye  his  faints  :  there  is  no  want 
to  them  that  fear  him  ! 

"  Oc>.  26.  Had  much  enlargement  this  morning, 
whiift  fpeaking  on  the  nature,  extent  and  influence  of 
divine  love  :  what  defigns  it  formed — with  what  en- 
ergy it  acted — with  what  perfeverance  it  purfued  its 
objec.1 — what  obftacles  it  furmounted — what  difficul- 
ties it  conquered — and  what  fweetnefs  it  imparted  un- 
der the  he  a  vie  ft  leads,  and  fevereft  trials.  Almoll 
through  the  day  I  enjoyed  a  very  defirable  frame,  and 
on  coming  home,  my  wife  and  I  had  fome  converfa- 
tion  on  the  fubjtft  of  my  going.  Shefaid,  Though 
in  general  the  thought  was  painful  -9  yet  there  were 
fome  feafons  when  (he  had  no  preference,  but  felt  her- 
felf  difpofed  to  go  or  flay,  as  the  Lord  fhould  direct* 

•f  This  day  wrote  to  brother  Fuller,  briefly  dating 
my  defires,  requefling  his  advice,  and  propofing  a 
meeting  of  the  Committee  on  the  bufinefs.  I  feel 
great  fatisfac"Hon  arifmg  from  my  leaving  the  matter 
to  the  determination  of  my  honoured  brethren,  and  to 
God  through  them. 

"  0£t.  27.  To-day  I  fent  a  packet  to  our  breth- 
ren in  India.  I  could  not  forbear  telling  brother  Ca- 
rey all  my  feelings,  views,  and  expectations.:  but 
without  faying  I  fhould  be  entirely  governed  by  the 
opinion  of  the  Society. 

«  Oft. 


54  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  OcX.  28.  Still  panting  to  preach  Jefus  among 
my  fellow  finners  to  whom  he  is  yet  unknown. 
Wrote  to  Dr.  Rogers,  of  Philadelphia,  to-day  upon 
the  fubjeft  with  freedom  and  warmth,  and  inquired 
whether,  whilft  the  people  of  the  United  States  were 
forming  Societies  to  encourage  arts,  liberty,  and  emi- 
gration, there  could  not  a  few  be  found  among  them 
•who  would  form  a  fociety  for  the  tranfmiiTion  of  the 
word  of  life  to  the  benighted  heathens  ;  or  in  cafe 
that  could  not  be,  whether  they  might  not  ftrengthen 
our  hands  in  Europe,  by  fome  benevolent  proof  of 
concurring  with  us  in  a  defign,  which  they  fpeak  of 
with  fuch  approbation  ?  With  this  I  fent  Heme's 
Letters.  I  will  follow  both  with  my  prayers,  and  wliQ 
can  tell  ? 

li  Oft.  29.  Looked  over  the  Cede  of  Hindoo  Laivr 
to-day.  How  much  is  there  to  admire  in  it,  founded 
on  the  principles  of  juftice.  The  mod  Salutary  regu- 
lations are  adopted  in  many  circum fiances.  But  what 
a  pity  that  fo  much  excellence  Should  be  abafed  by 
laws  to  eftablifh  or  countenance  idolatry,  magic,  pros- 
titution, prayers  for  the  dead,  falfe-witneffing,  theft, 
and  fuicide.  How  perfedt  is  the  morality  of  the  gof- 
pel  of  Jefus  •,  and  how  defirable  that  they  {hould  em- 
brace it.  Ought  not  means  to  be  ufed  ?  Can  we  aS- 
fift  them  too  foon  ?  There  is  reafon  to  think  that 
their  Shatters  were  penned  about  the  beginning  of  the 
Kollee  Jogue,  which  mull  be  foon  after  the  deluge  : 
and  are  not  4000  years  long  enough  for  100  millions 
of  men  to  be  under  the  empire  of  the  devil  ? 

"  0<ft.  31.  I  am  encouraged  to  enter  upon  this 
day  (which  I  fet  apart  for  fupplicating  God)  by  a  rec- 
elletlion  cf  his  promifes  to  thofe  who  Seek  him.  If 
the  facred  word  be  true,  the  fervants  of  God  can 
never  feek  his  face  in  vain  ;  and  as  I  am  confeious  of 
lay  fincerity  and  earnett  defire  only  to  know  his  pleas- 
ure. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ce.  55 

tire  that  I  may  perform  it,  I  find  a  degree  of  confi- 
dence that  I  (hall  realize  the  fulfilment  of  the  word  on 
which  he  caufeth  me  to  hope. 

iS  Began  the  day  with  folemn  prayer  for  the  affift- 
ance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  my  prefent  exercife,  that  fo 
I  might  enjoy  the  fpirit  and  power  of  prayer,  and  have 
my  perfonal  religion  improved,  as  well  as  my  public 
fteps  direfted.  In  this  duty  1  found  a  little  quick- 
ening. 

"  I  then  read  over  the  narrative  of  my  experience, 
and  my  journal.  I  find  my  views  are  (till  the  fame  ; 
but  my  heart  is  much  more  eftabiifhed  than  when  I 
began  to  write. 

"  Was  much  ftruck  in  reading  Paul's  words  in  2 
Cor.  i.  1 7,  when  after  fpeeking  of  his  purpofe  to  travel 
for  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  he  faith,  Did  I  then 
jhtnefs  when  I  ivas  thus  minded  P  Or  the  things  that 
I.purpofiy  do  I  purpofe  according  to  thejlejh^  that  with  me 
there  jhould  be  yea  yeay  nay  nay  ?  The  piety  of  the  apof- 
tle  in  not  purpofing  after  the  fleih,  the  ferioufnefs  of 
fpirit  with  which  he  formed  his  defigns,  and  his  fted- 
faft  adherence  to  them,  were  in  my  view  worthy  of 
the  higheft  admiration  and  ft  rift  eft  imitation. 

"  Thinking  that  I  might  get  fome  afliftance  from 
David  Bravura" s  experience,  I  read  his  life  to  the  time 
of  his  being  appointed  a  Miflionary  among  the  Indians. 
The  exalted  devotion  of  that  dear  man  almoft  made 
me  queilion  mine.  Yet  at  fome  feafons  he  fpeaks  cf 
finking  as  well  as  rifing.  His  lingular  piety  excepted, 
his  feelings,  prayers,  defires,  comforts,  hopes,  and  far- 
rows are  my  own  ;  and  if  I  could  follow  him  in  noth- 
ing elfe,  I  knew  I  had  been  enabled  to  fay  this  with 
him,  c  I  feel  exceedingly  calm,  and  quite  refigned  to 
God  refpefting  my  fucure  improvement  (or  ftation) 

when 


56  Memoirs  of  the  late 

tvben  and  where  he  pleafed.  My  faith  lifted  me  above 
the  world,  and  removed  all  thofe  mountains,  which  I 
could  not  look  over  of  late.  I  thought  I  wanted  not 
the  favour  of  man  to  lean  upon  ;  for  I  knew  God's 
favour  was  infinitely  better,  and  that  it  was  no  matter 
nvhere  or  when^  or  how  Chrift  mould  fend  me,  nor 
with  what  trials  he  fhould  flill  exercife  me,  if  I  might 
be  prepared  for  his  work  and  will.' 

tl  Read  die  ii.  iii.  iv.  v.  and  vi.  chapters  of  the 
fecond  epiftle  to  the  Corinthians.  Felt  a  kind  of  pla- 
cidity, but  not  much  joy.  On  beginning  the  conclud- 
ing prayer,  I  had  no  ftrength  to  wreftle,  nor  power 
with  God  at  all.  I  feemed  as  one  defolate  and  for- 
faken.  I  prayed  for  myfelf,  the  Society,  the  Miffion- 
aries,  the  converted  Hindoos,  the  church  in  Cannon- 
ftreet,  my  family,  and  mimftry  ;  but  yet  all  was  dul- 
nefs,  and  I  feared  I  had  offended  the  Lord.  I  felt 
but  little  zeal  for  the  million,  and  was  about  to  con- 
clude with  a  lamentation  over  the  hardnefs  of  my 
heart  ;  when  of  a  fudden  it  pleafed  God  to  fmite  the 
rock  with  the  rod  of  his  Spirit,  "and  immediately  the 
waters  began  to  flow.  O  what  a  heavenly,  glorious, 
melting  power  was  it.  My  eyes,  almoft  clofed  with 
weeping,  hardly  fufFer  me  to  write.  I  feel  it  over 
again.  O  what  a  view  of  the  love  of  a  crucified  Re- 
deemer did  I  enjoy  :  the  attractions  of  his  crofs  how 
powerful !  I  was  as  a  giant  refrefhed  with  new  wine,  as 
to  my  animation  ;  like  Mary  at  the  Mailer's  feet  w. 
ing,  for  tender r.efs  of  foul  5  like  a  little  child,  for  fub- 
miilion  to  my  heavenly  Father's  will  ;  and  like  Paul, 
for  a  victory  over  all  felf-love,  and  creature-love,  and 
fear  of  man,  when  thefe  things  ftand  in  the  way  of 
my  duty.  The  intereft  that  Chrift  took  in  the  re- 
demption of  the  heathen,  the  Gtuation  of  our  brc 
ren  in  Bengal,  the  worth  of  the  foul,  and  the  plain 
command  of  Jefus  Chrift,  together  with  an  irrefiitible 
drawing  of  foul,  which  by  far  exceeded  any  thing  I 

ever 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  57 

'■ever  felt  before,  and  is  impoflible  to  be  defcribed  to  or 
conceived  of  by  thofe  who  have  never  experienced 
it  •,  all  compelled  me  to  vote  that  I  would,  by  his 
leave,  ferve  him  among  the  heathen.  The  bible  lying 
open  before  me  (upon  my  knees)  many  pafTages  caught 
my  eye,  and  confirmed  the  purpofes  of  my  heart,  If 
ever  in  my  life  I  knew  any  thing  of  the  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  I  did  at  this  time.  I  was  fwallowed 
up  in  God.  Hunger,  fulnefs,  cold,  heat,  friends  and 
enemies,  all  feemed  nothing  before  God.  I  was  in  a 
new  world*  All  was  delightful  ;  for  Chrift  was  all, 
and  in  all.  Many  times  I  concluded  prayer,  but  when 
riling  from  rny  knees,  communion  with  God  was  ib 
defirable,  that  I  was  fweetly  drawn  to  it  again  and 
•again,  till  my  animal  ftrength  was  almoft  exhaufted. 
Then  I  thought  it  would  be  pleafure  to  burn  for  God. 

«  And  now  while  I  write,  fuch  a  heavenly  fwee'N 
nefs  fills  my  foul,  that  no  exterior  circum fiances  can 
remove  it  ;  and  I  do  uniformly  feel,  that  the  more  I 
am  thus,  the  more  I  pant  for  the  fervice  of  my  blefled 
Jefus  among  the  heathen.  Yes,  my  dear,  my  dying 
Lord,  I  am  thine,  thy  fervant  5  and  if  I  neglect  the 
fervice  of  io  good  a  mafter,  I  may  well  expect  a  guilty 
^confidence  in  life,  and  a  death  awful  as  that  of  Judas 
or  of  Spira  ! 

y  i  *  ■' 
"  This  evening  I  liad  a  meeting  with  my  mends. 
Returned  much  dejected.  Reviewed  a  letter-#rom 
brother  Fuller,  winch,  though  he  fays  he  Jtas  many 
objections  to  my  going,  yet  is  fo  affectionately  expreff- 
ed  as  to  yield  me  a  gratification. 

"  Nov.  3.  This  evening  received  a  letter  from 
brother  Ryland,  containing  many  objections  :  but 
contradiction  itfclf  is  pleafant  when  it  is  the  voice  of 
judgment  mingled  with  affection.  I  wifh  to  fremem* 
bcr  that  I  tnaf  be  mlflnkeny  thotigh  I  catuiot  fay  I  am 
¥  at 


58  Memoirs  of  the  late 

at  prefent  convinced  that  it  is  fo.  I  am  happy  to  find 
that  brother  Ryland  approves  of  my  referring  it  to  the 
Committee.  I  have  much  confidence  in  the  judg- 
ment of  my  brethren,  and  hope  I  mall  be  perfectly 
fatisfied  with  their  advice.  I  do  think,  however,  if  they 
knew  how  earneftly  I  pant  for  the  work,  it  would  be 
impoflible  for  them  to  withhold  their  ready  acquies- 
cence. O  Lord,  thou  knowefl  my  fincerity  ;  and  that 
if  I  go  not  to  the  work  it  will  not  be  owing  to  any 
reluftance  on  my  part  !  If  I  ftay  in  England,  I  fear 
I  (hall  be  a  poor  ufelefs  ilrone  ;  or  if  a  ienfe  of  duty 
prompt  me  to  activity,  I  doubt  whether  I  (hall  ever 
know  inward  peace  and  joy  again.  O  Lord,  I  am, 
rhou  knoweft  I  am,  opprejjed ;  undertake  lor  me  ! 

"  Nov.  5.  At  times  to-day  I  have  been  reconciled 
to  the  thought  of  flaying  if  any  brethren  ihould  fo  ad- 
vife  ;  but  at  other  times  I  feem  to  think  I  could  not. 
I  look  at  brother  Carey's  portrait  as  it  hangs  in  my 
ftudy,  I  love  him  in  the  bowels  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
long  to  join  his  labours  :  every  look  calls  up  a  hun- 
dred thoughts,  all  of  which  inflame  my  defire  to  be 
a  fellow-labourer  with  him  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
One  thing,  however,  I  have  reiolved  upon,  that,  the 
Lord  keeping  me,  if  I  cannot  go  abroad,  I  will  do  all 
I  can  to  ierve  the  million  at  home. 

«  Nov.  7.  This  is  the  Jaft  day  of  peculiar  devo- 
tion before  the  deciding  meeting.  May  I  have 
ftrength  to  wreftle  with  God  to-day  for  his  wifdom 
to  prefide  in  the  Committee,  and  by  faith  to  leave  the 
iiTue  to  their  determination. 

1  «  I  did  not  enjoy  much  enlargement  in  prayer  to* 
day.  My  mind  feems  at  preiVnt  incapable  of  thofe 
fenfations  of  joy  with  which  I  have  lately  been  much 
indulged,  through  its  ftrugglings  in  relation  to  my  go- 
ing or  ftayin^  :    yet  I  have  been  enabled  to  commit 

the 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  59 

tht  iffue  into  the  hands  of  God,  as  he  may  direct  ray 
brethren,  hoping  that  their  advice  will  be  agreeable  to 
his  wilL" 

The  refult  of  the  Committee  Meeting  has  already 
been  related  ;  together  with  the  (late  of  his  mind,  as 
far  as  could  be  collected  from  his  letters,  for  fome 
time  after  it.  The  termination  of  thefe  tender  and 
interefting  exercifes,  and  of  all  his  other  labours,  in 
io  fpeedy  a  removal  from  the  prefent  fcen'e  of  action, 
may  teach  us  not  to  draw  any  certain  concluiion  as  to 
the  defigns  of  God  concerning  our  future  labours, 
from  the  ardour  or  fincerity  of  our  feelings.  He  may 
take  it  well  that  it  was  in  our  hearts  to  build  him  an 
houfey  though  he  mould  for  wife  reafons  have  deter- 
mined not  to  gratify  us.  Suffice  it,  that  in  matters  of 
everlasting  moment  he  has  engaged  to  perf eft  that 
which  concerns  us.  In  this  he  hath  condescended  to 
bind  himfelf,  as  by  an  oath,  for  our  confolation  ;  here 
therefore  we  may  fafely  confider  our  fpiritual  defires 
as  indicative  of  his  defigns  :  but  it  is  otherwife  in  va- 
rious inftances  with  regard  to  prefent  duty. 


6«-  Memoirs  *f  the  latz 


CHAP.     III. 

HIS    EXERCISES    AND    LABOURS,    FROM    THE    TIME    OF    HIS, 

GIVING    UP   THE    IDEA   OF   GOING   ABROAD,    TO  THE 

COMMENCEMENT    OF,    HIS    LAST   AFFLICTION'. 

JLaAD  the  multiplied  labours  of  this  excel- 
lent man  permitted  his  keeping  a  regular  diary,  we 
may  fee  by  the  foregoing  fpecimen  of  a  feigle  month, 
what  a  rich  ftore  of  truly  Chriftian  experience  would 
have  pervaded  thefe  Memoirs.  We  fhouid  then  have 
been  better  able  to  trace  the  gradual  openings,  of  his 
holy  mind,  and  the  fprings  of  that  extraordinary  unc- 
tion of  fpirit,  and  energy  of  action,  by  which  his  life 
was  diftinguifhed.  As  it  is,  we  can  only  collect  a 
few  gleanings,  partly  from  memory,  and  partly  from 
letters  communicated  by  his  friends. 

This  chapter  will  include  a  period  of  about  four 
years,  during  which  he  went  twice  to  London  to  col-- 
led  for  the  Baptjft  MiJJion,  a-nd  once  he  v.ifited  Dub-- 
lin,  at  the  icviutien  of  the  Evangelical  Society  in  that, 
city. 

There  appears  throughout  the  general  tenor  of  his. 
life,  a  lingular  fubmiiTiver.efs  to  the  will  of  God  ;  and. 
what  is  worthy  of  notice,  this  difpofition  was  general- 
ly moil  confpicuous  when  his  own  will  was  molt, 
counteracted.  The  juiineis  of  this  remark  is.  fuf— 
ficiently  apparent  from  his  letter  to  Mrs.  Fearce,  o£ 
Nov.  13,  1  /94>*  after  the  decifion  of  the  Committee  \ 
and  the  fame  fpirit  was  carried  into  the  common  con- 
cerns of  life.  Thus,  about  a  month  afterwards,  when 
I:2s  dear  Louifa  was  ill  cf  a  fever,  he  thus- writes  from, 
Northampton  to  Mrs.  Pearce  :— 

m  MgfcmktM 
•  See  page  4Q. 


Mr*  Samuel  Pearce.  61 

"  Dectmlcr  13,  1794. 
"My  dear  Sarah, 

"  I  AM  juft  brought  on  the  wings  of  celeftial 
mercy  fafe  to  my  Sabbath's  ftation.  I  am  well ;  and 
my  dear  friends  here  feem  healthy  and  happy  :  but  I 
feel  for  you.  I  long  to  know  how  our  dear  Louifa's 
pulfe  beats  :  I  fear  ftill  feveriih.  We  muft  not,  how- 
ever, fuffer  ourfelves  to  be  infected  with  a  mental  fe- 
ver on  this  account.  Is  (lie  ill  ?  It  is  right.  Is  fhe 
very  ill  ...  .  dying  ?  It  is  ftill  right.  Is  fhe  gone 
to  join  the  heavenly  choriflers  ?  It  is  all  right,  not- 
withstanding our  repinings Repinings  !  no  ;  we 

will  not  repine.  It  is  belt  (he  ihould  go.  It  is  bed 
for  her.  This  we  muft  allow.  It  is  beft  for  us.  Do 
we  expeft  it  ?  O  what  poor,  ungrateful,  fhort-fight- 
ed  worms  are  we  I  Let  us  fubmit,  my  Sarah,  till  we 
come  to  heaven  :  if  we  do  not  then  fee  that  it  is  beft, 
let  us  then  complain.  But  why  do  I  attempt  to  con- 
fole  ?  Perhaps  an  indulgent  Providence  has  ere  now 
diffipated  your  fears  :  or  if  that  fame  kind  Providence 
has  removed  our  babe,  you  have  confolation  enough 
in  Him  who  fufFered  more  than  we  ;  and  more  than 
enough  to  quiet  all  our  pailions,  in  that  aftonilhing 
eonfideration, — c  God  fo  loved  the  world,  that  he  /par- 
ed not  his  own  Son.'  Did  God  cheerfully  give  the 
holy  child  Jesus  for  us  :  and  (hall  we  refufe  our  child 
to  Him  !  He  gave  his  Son  to  fuffer  :  He  takes  our 
children  to  enjoy  :    Yes  y  to  enjoy  Himfelf. 


Yours,  with  the  tendereft  regard, 


S.P. 


■  •*.  <s>4?j|^><s»  <>• 


In  June,  1795:,  he  attended  the  Aflbciation  at  Ket- 
tering, partly  on  account  of  fome  miffionary  bufinefs 
there  to  be  tranfa&ed.     That  was  a  feafon  of  great 
F  2  joy 


joy  to  many,  efpecially  the  laft  forenoon  previous  to 
parting.  From  thence  he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Pearce  as 
follows  : — 

"  FrOm  a  pew  in  the  houfe  of  God  at  KetteTringr 
with  my  cup  of  joy  running  over,  I  addrefs  you  by 
the  hands  of  brother  Simrnons.  Had  it  pleated  Di- 
vine Providence  to  have  permitted  your  accompanying 
me,  my  pleasures  would  have  received  no  fmalt  ad- 
dition ;  becaufe  I  fhould  have  hoped  that  you  would 
have  been  filled  with  fimilar  confolation,  and  have  re- 
ceived equal  edification  by  the  precious  means  of  grace 
on  which  I  have  attended.  Indeed,  I  never  remem- 
ber to  have  enjoyed  a  public  meeting  to  fuch  a  high 
degree  fmce  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  attending 
upon  them.  Oh  that  I  may  return  to  you,  and  the 
dear  church  of  God,  in  the  fulnefs  of  the  bleifing  of 
the  gofpel  of  Chrift  !  I  hope,  my  beloved,  that 
you  are  not  without  the  enjoyment  of  the  fweetnefs 
and  the  fuppoits  of  the  blefled  gcfpel.  Oh  that  vow 
may  get  and  keep  near  to  God,  and  in  Him  find  in- 
finitely more  than  you  can  poffibly  lofe  by  your  huf- 
band's  abfeiice  ! 

*«  Mr.  Hall  preached,  laft  evening,  from  r?et.  I  8. 
A  meft  evangelical  and  experimental  feaibn  !  I  was 
charmed  and  warmed.  Oh  that  Jefus  may  go  on  to 
reveal  himfelf  to  him  as  altogether  lovely  1  I  am  un- 
able to  write  mote  now.  To-day  I  ftfl  ct?  for  North- 
ampton, and  preach  there  to-night.  The  Lord  blefs 
you  !" 

In   July,    1 79J>  He  \1   a  preffing   invitation 

from  the  General  .Evz?igein\'i!  Society  in  Dublin,  to  pay 
then)  a  viilr,  and  to  affiil  in  diirufing  the  goipei  of 
•  he  grace  of  God  hi  that  kingdom.  To  this  ftivlta- 
uon  he  replied  in  the  f^flowirjg  letter,  addreiHd  to 
Dr.  Mc  Ddw<il:-~ 

"  Birmingham, 


Mr.  Sthmfel  Pen-~r.\  6$ 

"  Birmingham,  Augufl  3,  179J.. 

■  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

«  I  RECEIVED  your  favour  of  the  2zd.  ult. 
and  for  the  interefting  realbn  you  afiign,  tranfm 
.«  fpeedy  aniVer.'  The  Society,  on  whole  behalf  ; 
wrote,  I  have  ever  confidered  with  the  refpecl  due  to 
the  real  friends  of  the  bed  of  caufes — The  came  of 
God  and  of  his  Chrift  :  a  caufe  which  embraces  the 
moft  important  and  durable  interefts  of  our  fellow 
men  :  and  your  name,  dear  fir,  I  have  been  taught  to 
hold  in  more  than  common  elleem  by  my  dear  broth- 
er and  father,  Meiirs.  Birt  and  Francis.  The  benev- 
olent inftitution  which  you  are  engaged  in  fupporting,' 
I  am  perfuaded,  deferves  more  than  the  good  wifhes 
or  prayers  of  your  brethren  in  the  kingdom  and  pa- 
tience of  Jefus,  on  this  fide  the  channel  ;  and  it  will 
yield  me  fubftantial  pleafure  to  arfbrd  perfonal  ailiit- 
ance  in  your  pious  labours.  But,  for  the  prcfent,  I 
am  forry  to  fay,  I  mull  decline  your  proposal  j  being 
engaged  to  fpend  a  month  in  London  this  autumn,  on 
the  bufmefs  of  our  MUjlon  Society  of  which  you  have 
probably  heard. 

"  When  I  formed  my  prefent  connexions  with  the 
church  in  Bir.i  }  I  propofed  an  annual  freedom 

for  fit  weeks,  from  my  paftoral  duties  ;  and  fhould 
the  <  Evangelical  Society'  exprefs  a  wifti  for  my  ier- 
vices  the  e'nfaing  year,  I  am  perfectly  inclined,  God 
willing;  to  fpend  that  time  beneath  their  direction, 
and  at  what  part  of  the  year  they  conceive  a  vifit 
would  be  molt  ferviceable  to  the  good  deilgn.  I  only 
requeft,  that  lhuuld  this  be  their  defire,  I  may  receive 
the  information  as  icon  as  they  can  conveniently  de- 
cide, that  I  may  withhold  myfeif  from  other  engage- 
ments, which  may  interfere  with  the  time  they  may 
appoint.  I  entreat  you  to  make  my  Chriftian  refpects 
rptabk  to  the  gentlemen  who  coinpofe  the  Socie- 


64  Memoirs  of  the  Iafe 

ty,  and  allure  yourfelf  that  I  am,  dear  fir,  refpe&fully 
and  affectionately, 

Your  brother,  in  our  Lord  Jefus, 

s.  p." 

The  invitation  was  repeated,  and  he  complied  with 
their  requeft,  engaging  to  go  over  in  the  month  of 
June,   1796. 

• 

A  little  before  this  journey,  it  occurred  to  Dr.  Ry- 
land,  that  an  itinerating  million  into  Cornwall  might 
be  of  ufe  to  the  caufe  of  true  religion,  and  that  two 
acceptable  minifkers  might  be  induced  to  undertake  it ; 
and  that  if  executed  during  the  vacation  at  the  Briftol 
Academy,  two  of  the  ftude'nts  might  fupply  their 
place.  He  communicated  his  thoughts  to  Mr.  Pearce* 
who  wrote  thus  in  anfwer  : — 

"  May   50,  1796. 
44  My  very  dear  Brother, 

"  I  THANK  you  a  thoufand  times  for  yourlaft 
letter.  Blefled  be  God,  who  hath  put  it  into  your 
heart  to  propofe  fuch  a  plan  for  increafing  die  boun- 
daries of  Zion,  1  have  read  your  letter  to  our  wifeft 
friends  here,  and  they  heard  it  with  great  joy.  The 
plan  •,  the  place  -,  the  mode  \  the  perfons  ;  all,  all 
meet  our  moft  affectionate  wifhes.  How  did  fuch  a 
fchemx  never  enter  our  minds  before  !  Alas,  we  have 
nothing  in  our  hearts  that  is  worth  having,  fave  what 
God  puts  there.  Do  write  to  me  when  at  Dublin, 
and  tell  rae  whether  it  be  refolved  on  ;  when  they 
fet  out,  &c.  ?  I  hope  ere  long  to  hear,  that  as  many  * 
difciples  are  employed  in  Great-Britain,  as  the  Saviour 
employed  in  Judea.  When  he  gives  the  word,  great 
will  be  the  company  of  the  preachers. 

«  Oh,. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  &J 

*<  Oh,  my  dear  brother,  let  us  go  on  dill  praying, 
contriving,  labouring,  defending,  until  <  the  little 
leaven  leaveneth  the  whole  lumpj  and  the  fmali  Hone 
from  the  mountain  fill  the  whole  earth.? 

M  What  pleafures  do  thofe  lofe  who  have  no  inter- 
eft  in  God's  gracious  and  holy  caufe  !  How  thankful. 
Ciould  we  be,  that  we  are  not  ftrangers  to  the  joy 
which  the  friends  of  Zion.  feel  when  the  Lord  turn- 
<th  again  Zion's  captivity.     I  am,  beyond  expreflion, 

Your  aireclionate  brother-  in  Chrjjl,. 

S.  P." 

On  May  3  1  he  fet  off  for  Dublin,  and  «  the  Lord 

profpered  his  way,  fo  that  he  arrived  at  the  time  ap^- 

pointed  ;  and'  from  every  account  it  appears,  that  he 

was  not  only  lent  in  the fullnefs  of  the  bl effing  of  the  gf- 

pe!  of  peace,  but  that  the  Lord  himfelf  went  with  him* 

His  preaching  was  not  o\\\^.  highly  acceptable  to  every 

clafs  of  hearers,  but  the   word  came  from  him  with 

power,  and  there  is  abundant  reafon  to  believe,  that 

many  will  through  'eternity  praife  God  for  lending  his 

meffage  to  thtm  by    this  dear  ambafiiulor  of  Chrifh 

His  memory  lives  in  their  hearts,  and  they  join  with 

the  ether  churches  of  Chriit  ill  deploring  die  lofs  they 

have  fuftarned  bv  his  dei 
* 

"  He  was  earneft'ly  fbJicited  by  tire  Evangelical  So- 
ciety to  rfcnew  his  vifit  to  that  kingdom  in  1798. 
Ready  to  embrace  every  call  of  duty,  he  had  fignified 

his  compliance  :  and  the  time  was  £zcd  :  but  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  rebellion  prevented  him  from 
realizing  his  intention.  This  was  a  painful  difap- 
pointment  to  many,  who  wiihed  once  more  to  fee  his, 
facej  and  to  have  heard  the  glad  tidings  from  his  lij 

Kuchk 


66  Memoirs  of  the  late 

Such  is  the  brief  account  of  his  vifit  to  Dublin, 
given  by  Div  Mc.  Bowal.  The  fallowing  letter  was 
written  to  Mrs.  Pea*rce,  when  he  had  been  there  a  lit- 
tle more  than  a  week  : — 

"  Dubln,  June  3 1,  I  796. 

u  I  LONG  to  know'how  you  do,  and  yo/u  will 
be  as  much  concerned  to  know  how  I  go  on  at  this 
diftance  from  you*      I  hairle  to  fatisfy  your  inquiries. 

"  I  am  in  perfect  health  :  am  delightfully  difap- 
pointed  with  the  place,  and  its  inhabitants.  I  am 
very  thankful  that  I  came  over.  I  have  found  much 
more  religion  here  already  than  I  expected  to  meet 
with  during  the  whole  of  my  flay.  The  profpecT:  of 
ufefulnefs  is  flattering.  I  have  already  many  more 
friends  (I  hope  Chrifitan  friends)  than  I  can  gratify  by 
vifits.  Many  doors  are  open  for  preaching  the  gofpei 
in  the  city  ;  and  my  country  excurfions  will  probably 
be  few.     Thus  much  for  outline. 

u  But  you  will  like  to  know  how  I  fpend  my  time> 

&€.     Well  then  :  I  am  at  the  hcufe  of  a  Mr.  H y 

late  High-Sheriff"  for  the  city  :  a  gentleman  of  opu- 
lence, re  fpe (Stability,  and  evangelical  piety.  He  is  by 
profe-ilion  a  Calviniitic  prefbyterian  j  an  elder  of  Dr^ 
Mc.  BowaFs  church  \  has  a  moft  amiable  wife,  and 
four  children.  I  am  very  thankful  for  being  placed 
here  during  my  day.  I  am  quite  at  home,  I  mean  as 
to  eafe  and  familiarity  \  for  as  to  Jlyle  of  living,  I 
neither  do,  nor  defire  to  equal  it.  Yet  in  my  pref- 
ent  fituation  it  is  convenient.  It  would,  however,  be 
fickening  and  dull,  had  I  not  a  God  to  go  to,  to  con- 
verfe  with,  to  enjoy,  and  to  call  my  ozvn.  Oh,  'tis 
this,  ftu  ihiSy  my  dearefl  Sarah,  which  gives  a  point 
to  every  enjoyment,  and  iweetens  ail  the  cup  of  life. 

"The 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  67 

a  The  Lord's  day  after  I  wrote'to  you  laft,  I  preach- 
ed for  Dr.  Mc.  Dowal  in  the  morning  at  half  paft 
eleven  •,  heard  a  Mr.  Kilburne  at  five  ;  and  preached 
again  at  Plunket-ltreet  at  feven.  On  Tuefday  even- 
ing I  preached  at  an  hofpital,  and  on  Thurfday  even- 
ing at  Plunket-ftreet  again.  Yefterday,  for  the  Bap- 
tifts  in  the  morning,  Dr.  Mc.  Dowal  at  five,  and  at 
Plunket-ftreet  at  feven. 

"  The  hours  of  worfliip  will  appear  fingular  to  you : 
they  depend  on  the  ufual  meal  times.  We  breakfaft 
at  ten  •,  dine  between  four  and  five,  fometimes  be- 
tween five  and  fix  ;  take  tea  from  feven  to  nine  *,  and 
fup  from  ten  to  twelve. 

"  I  thank  God  that  I  polTefs  an  abiding  determina- 
tion to  aim  at  the  confcunces  of  the  people  in  every 
dlfcourfe.  I  have  borne  the  moft  pofitive  teftimony 
againft  the  prevailing  evils  of  profeftbrs  here  : — as,  (tn^ 
fuality,  gaiety,  vain  amufements,  neglect  of  the  Sab- 
bath, &c.  ^  and  3aft  night,  told  an  immenfe  crowd  of 
profefibrs  of  the  fir  ft  rank,  <  that  if  they  made  cuftom 
and  faihion  their  plea,  they  were  awfully  deluding  their 
fouls  •,  for  it  had  always  been  the  fafhion  to  infult 
God,  to  diflipate  time,  and  to  purfue  the  broad  road 
to  hell  ;  but  it  would  not  leflen  their  torments  there, 
that  the  way  to  damnation  was  the  fafl)ion.' 

*  I  expected  my  faithfulnefs  would  have  given  them 
otTence  -,  but  I  am  perfuaded  it  was  the  way  to  pleafe 
the  Lord,  and  thofe  whom  I  expected  would  be  ene- 
mies, are  not  only  at  peace  with  me,  but  even  renounce 
their  fenfual  indigencies  to  attend  on  my  miniftry. 
I  do  afluredly  believe  that  God  hath  lent  me  hither 
for  good.  The  five  o'clock  meetings  are  miferably  at- 
tended in  general.  In  a  houfe  that  will  hold  1,500, 
or  2jOoo  people,  you  will  hardly  fee  above  fifty  ! 
Yefterday  morning  I  preached  on  the  fubject  of  pub- 
lic 


68  Memoirs  of  the  late 

lie  worjbip)  from  Pfalm  v.  7,  and  ferioufly  warned 
them  again (1  preferring  their  bellies  to  God,  and  their 
own  houfes  to  his.  I  was  delighted  and  furprifed,  at 
the  five  o'clock  meeting  to  fee  the  place  nearly  full. 
Surely  this  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in 
my  eyes.  Never,  nev^r  did  I  more  feel  how  weak  I 
am  in  myfelf/--a  mere  nothing  ;  and  hew  ftrong  I  am 
in  the  omnipotence  of  God.  I  feel  a  fuperiority  to 
all  fear,  and  poiTefs  a  confeious  dignity  in  being  the 
ambafladof  of  God.  Oh  help  me  to  praife,  for  it  is 
lie  alone  who  teachcth  my  hands  to  war,  and  my 
fingers  to  fight  :  and  Hill  pray  for  me  ;  for  if  he 
withdraw  for  a  moment,  I  become  as  weak  and  un- 
profitable as  the  briars  of  the  wildernefs. 

"  You  cannot  think  how  much  I  arh  fupported  by 
the  aiTurance  that  I  have  left  a  prayhig  people  at  Bir- 
mingham ;  and  I  believe,  that  in  anfwer  to  their  pray- 
ers I  have  hitherto  been  wonderfully  a  fulled  in  my 
public  work,  as  well  as  enjoyed  muck  in  private  de- 
votion. 

"  I  have  formed  a  mcfr.  ple&fTng  acquaintance  with 
fcveral  feridus  yc  in  the  Univt'rfity  here,  and 

with  two  of  '  f  the  College  ;  mod  pious 

gentlemen  indeed,  who  have  undergone  -a 'world  of 
reproach  for  "Chrift  and  his  gofpel,  and  have  been 
forbidden  to  preach  in  the  churches  by  the  Arehbifh- 
op  :  but  God  has  railed  another  hotlfe  for  them  here^ 
where  they  preach  with  much  fuccefe,  and  have  begun 
a  meeting  in  the  College,  which  promifes  frefh  pros- 
perity to  the  caufe  of  Jefus." 

The  following  particulars,  in  addition  to  the  above, 
are  taken  partly  from  fome  notes  in  his  own  hand 
writing,  and  partly  from  the  account  given  by  his 
friend,  Mr.  Summers,  who  accompanied  him  during 
the  4atter  part  of  his  vifits. 

A* 


Mr.  Samuel  Peara.  69 

At  his  firft  arrival,  the  congregations  were  but 
thinly  attended,  and  the  Baptift  congregation  in  par- 
ticular, amongft  whom  he  delivered  feveral  difcourfes. 
It  much  affected  him  to  fee  the  whole  city  given  to 
fenfuality  and  worldly  conformity  ;  and  efpecially  to 
find  thofe  of  his  own  denomination  amongft  the  low- 
eft,  and  leaft  affected  with  their  condition.  But  the 
longer  he  continued,  the  more  the  congregations  in- 
creafed,  and  every  opportunity  became  increafingly 
interefting,  both  to  him  and  them.  His  faithful  re- 
monftrances,  and  earned  recommendations  of  pray- 
er-meetings to  his  Baptift  friends,  though  at  firft  ap- 
parently ill  received,  were  well  taken  in  the  end ;  and 
he  had  the  happinefs  to  fee  in  them  fome  hopeful  ap- 
pearances of  a  return  to  God.  On  June  the  20th  he 
wrote  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Summers,  as  follows  : — 

11  My  dear  friend, 

"  IF  you  mean  to  abide  by  my  opinion,  I  fay, 
Come  to  Dublin,  and  come  directly  !  I  have  been  moft 
delightfully  difappointed.  I  expected  darknefs,  and 
behold,  light  •,  forrow,  and  I  have  had  caufe  for  abun- 
dant joy.  I  thank  God  that  I  came  hither,  and  hope 
that  many,  as  well  as  myfelf,  will  have  caufe  to  praife 
him.  Never  have  I  been  more  deeplv  taught  mv 
own  nothingnefs  :  never  hath  the  power' of  God  more 
evidently  refted  upon  me.  The  harveft  here  is  great 
indeed  ;  and  the  Lord  of  the  harveft  hath  enabled  me 
to  labour  in  it  with  delight. 

1  I  praife  him  for  all  that  is  pad  ; 
I  truft  him  for  all  that's  to  come/ 

"  The  Lord  hath  of  late  been  doing  great  things 
for  Dublin.  Several  of  the  young  men  in  the  col- 
lege have  been  awakened  ;  and  two  of  the  fellows  are 
fweet  evangelical  preachers.  One  of  them  is  of  a  fpirit 
ferene  as  the  fummer  evening,  and  fweet  as  the 
G  breath 


jo  Memoirs  of  the  late 

breath  of  May.  I  am  already  intimate  with  them, 
and  have  fpent  feveral  mornings  in  college  with  vari- 
ous itudents,  who  bid  fair  to  be  faithful  watchmen  on 
Jerufalem's  walls.  But  I  hope  you  will  come  •,  and 
then  you  will  fee  for  yourfelf.  If  not,  I  will  give 
you  fome  pleafant  details  when  we  meet  in  England. 

S.P." 

Mr.  Summers  complied  with  this  invitation  ;  and 
of  the  lafl  feven  or  eight  days  of  Mr.  Pearce's  con- 
tinuance at  Dublin,  he  himfelf  thus  writes  : — 

"  Monday,  July  4.     At  three  in  the  afternoon  I 

went  with  my  friend,  Mr.  Summers,  to  Mr.  K 's. 

Spent  a  very  agreeable  day.  Mifs  A.  K remark- 
ed two  wonders  in  Dublin  : — a  praying  fociety  com- 
pofed  of  fludents  at  college,  and  another  of  lawyers. 
The  family  were  called  together.  We  fung  :  I  read, 
and  expounded  the  xii.  of  Ifaiah  •,  and  prayed. — At 
feven  we  went  to  a  prayer  meeting  at  Plunket-ftreet : 

very  large  attendance.     Mr.  R and  Mr.  S 

prayed,  and  I  fpoke  from  Rom.  x.  12,  13.  There  is 
?io  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek  :  for  the 
fame  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  who  call  upon  him. 
For  ivhofoever Jhall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord^fall  be 
faved. — Many  feemed  affected. — After  I  had  clofed 
the  opportunity,  I  told  them  fome  of  my  own  experi- 
ence, and  requefted,  that  if  any  prefent  wifhed  for 
conversation,  they  would  come  to  me,  either  that 
evening,  or  on  Thurfday  eveaing  in  the  veflry. — Five 
perfons  came  in  : — one  had  been  long  imprefTed  with 
religion,  but  could  never  fummons  courage  enough 

to  open  her  heart  before.     Another,  a  Mifs  W , 

attributed  her  flrft  impreffions,  under  God,  to  my 
miniftry  •,    and  told,  me  that  her  father  had  regularly 

attended 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  7  * 

attended  of  late,  and  that  her  mother  was  fo  much 
alarmed  as  to  be  almoit  in  defpair.  Poor  girl  !  ihe 
feemed  truly  in  earned  about  her  own  foul,  and  as 
much  concerned  for  her  parents. — The  next  had  pofer 
feffed  a  ferious  concern  for  fome  time,  and  of  late  had 

been  much  revived. — One  young  lady,  a  Mifs  H , 

flaid  in  the  meeting-houfe,  exceedingly  affected  in- 
deed.    Mr.  K fpoke  to  her — She  faid,  (he  would 

fpeak  with  me  on  Thurfday. 

"  Tuefday,  5th.  <   Went  to  Leifiip.     At  feven — 
preached  to  a  large  and  affected  auditory. 

«  Wednefday,  6th.     Mr.  He and  myfelf  went 

to  Mrs.  Mc.  G ,  to  inquire  about  the  young  lady  • 

who    was   fo  much   affected    at  the  meeting.     Mrs. 

Mc.  G faid,  her  mother  and  fifter  were  pious  ; 

that  fhe  had  been  very  giddy  ;  but  that  laft  Lord's 
day  fhe  was  ferioufly  awakened  to  a  fenfe  of  fin  ;  had 
expreffed  her  delight  in  religion,  and  fled  for  refuge 
to  the  blood  of  Jefus. — Her  fifter  was  introduced  to 
me  5   a  fweetly- pious- -lady.— I  agreed  to  wait  for  an- 

interview  with  the   young  lady  at  Mr.  H 's,  in 

Eccles-ftreet,  to-morrow. 

«  Thurfday,  7th.      Mifs  H ,  her  fifter,  and 

Mrs.  Mc.  G ,  came  to  Eccles-ftreet. — A  mod  de- 
lightful interview.  Seldom  have  I  feen  fuch  pro- 
ficiency in  fo  fhort  a  time. — That  day  week,  atPlunk- 
et-ftreet,  fhe  received  her  firft  ferious  impreffions. 
Her  concern  deepened  at  Mafs  Lane,  on  Lord's-day 
morning — more  fo  in  the  evening  at  Plunket-ftreet — 
but  moft  of  all  on  Monday  night. — I  exhorted  them 
to  begin  a  prayer  and  experience  meeting  ;  and  they 
agreed.  Bleffed  be  God  !  this  ftrengthens  my  hands 
greatly. — At  feven  o'clock,  preached  at  Plunket-ftreet, 
from  Jer.  I.  4,  5.  Going  and  weeping — they  Jhall  ajk* 
the  way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward. — A  full 

houfe  y 


7 2  Memoirs  of  the  late 

houfe  ;  and  an  lmpreffive  feafon.  Tarried  after  the 
public  fervices  were  ended,  to  converfe  on  religion. 
The  moil  pleafing  cafe  was  a  voung  man  of  Mr. 
D 's. 

"  Saturday,  9th.       Went    with   my    friend,    Mr. 

S- ,  to   call  c  ri .     Foin id  her  at  her 

her's — "VP  :  the  door — She  ran  out  af- 

us — Seemed  happy  ;  but  agitated.     Ran,  and  c 
ed  her  mother — Seen  the  door  of  the  parlour 

open,  and  a  majv.  appeared  \  who,  as  (lie  en- 

1  the  room,  thus  acceded  me  : — f  Who  art  thou, 
oh  Welled  of  the  Lord  :  Welcome  to  the  widow's 
houfe  !  Accept  the  widow's  thanks  for  coming  after 
the  child  whom  thou  haft  begotten  in  the  gofpel  V — I 
v&A  too  much  overcome  to  do  more  than  take  by  the 
I  *;..it.  A  folemn  iilence  enftted  for  a 
minute  or  two  ;  when  the  old  lady  recovering,  ex- 
preffed  the  fuhiefs  of  her  fatisfaction  refpecYmg  the 
reality  of  the  change  effected  in  her  daughter,  and  her 
gratitude  for  great  refreshment  of  her  own  foul,  by 
irttstifj  oi  -"r  jfpof  (ifj&ars.  &£s  faiil,  Hie  had  known 
the  Lord  d&titfg  fotty  year^v  being  called  under  the 
miniftry  of  John  Fiiner,  in  the  open  air,  when  on  a 
vifit  to  an  officer  who  was  her  brother-in-law.  She 
told  us  much  of  her  experience,  and  promifed  to  en- 
courage the  prayer- meeting,  which  I  propofed  to  be 
held  in  her  houfe  every  Lord's  day  evening.  They  are  ' 
to  begin  to-morrow,  after  preaching. — It  was  a  pleaf- 
attt  meeting  ;  and  we  returned  with  pleafure  to  Ec*- 
cles-ftreet.  After  we  rofe  up  to  come  away,  the  old 
lady  affectionately  faid,  *  May  the  good  will  of  Him 
who  dwelt  in  the  bufli  attend  you  wherever  you  go, 
forever  and  ever  !" 

The  young  lady  fome  months  after  wrote  to  Mr. 

S ,  and  fays,  amongft  other   things, — "  I   have 

great  reafon  to  be  thankful  for  the  many  blefllngs^the 

Lord 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  y$K 

id  has  been  pleafed  to  beftow  upon  me,  and  in 
particular  for  his  fending  Mr.  Pearce  to  this  city;  and 
that  through  his  means  I  have  been  convinced  of  fin.' 
I  am  happy  to  inform  you,  that  through  grace  I  am 
enabled  to  walk  in  the  narrow  path.  The  Lord  has 
taken  away  all  defire  for  worldly  company  ;  all  rr.y- 
defires  now  are  to  attend  on  the  means  of  'grace. 
Blefled  be  his  name,  I  often  find  him  prefent  in  them. 
My  mother  and  I  often  remember  the  happy  time  we 
fpent  in  your  company  at  our  houfe.  She  often 
fpeaks  of  it  with  great  pleafure,  and  bleiTes  the  Lord 
for  the  change  which  grace  has  wrought  in  me/? 

«  LordVday,  ipAl  (TBe  laft  Sabbath.)  Preach- 
ed  in  the  morning  at  Mary's  abbey,  from  Job  xxxiii.  27,. 
28.  He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  .any  fay  %  I have  finned y 
and  perverted  that  which  tuas  right,  and  it  profited  me 
not  ;  he  iv'ill  deliver  his  foul  -from  going  into  the  pit,  and 
life fhaJl fee  the,  light. — A  happy  feafon. — In-  the  af- 
ternoon, having  dined  with  Mr.  W ,  he  took  - 


k  rr.z 


~~..,  **^,^.&  ^^  „  .w-  **.,    ..   ■        ,  ~~  -"''■*'<»» 

to  Swift's  alley,  the  Baptiit  place  of  worfnip,  where 
I  gave  an  exhortation  on  brotherly  love,  and  adminif 

tered  the  Lord's  fupper.      At  Mr.  W 's  motion, 

the  church  requefted  me  to  look  out  a  fuitable  minis- 
ter for  them.- — In  the. evening,  I  preached  at  Pliinfcet- 
ftreet,  from  2  Tim.  i.  18.  The  Lord  grant  unto  hint 
that  he  may  find  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  that  day  i — A  verv 
foJerrm  feaion,  . 

M  Monday,  nth.     Met  the  dear  Chriftian  friends*-. 
for   the  laft  time,  at  a  prayer-meeting   in    Plunket- 
ftreet.— -The  Lord  was  there  ! — Several  friends  fpent 
the  evening  with  us  afterwards  at  Mri  H- 's. 

«  Tuefday,  12th.     Went  aboard  at  four  ;    arrived 

at  Liverpool  on  Thurfday  ;   and  fafely  at  home  on 

Friday,  July  15,  1796.     Blefled  be  the  Preferver  of 

G  2  men, 


74  Memoirs  of  the  late 

men,  the  Saviour  of  finners,  and  the  help  of  his  fer- 
yants,  for  evermore,  amen,  amen," 

Some  time  after,  writing  to  his  friend  who  accom- 
panied him,  he  fays,  "  I  have  received  feveral  letters 
from  Dublin  : — two  from   Mafter  B.  one  from  Mifs 

H ,  one  from  M ,  three  or  four  from  the  Bap- 

tift  friends,  and  fome  from  others,   whom   I  cannot 

recoiled. — Mr.  K lately  called  on  me  in  his 

way  from  Bath  to  Holyhead.  We  talked  of  you,  and 
of  our  Lord,  and  did  not  part  till  we  had  prefented 
ourfelves  before  the  throne." 

During  his  labours  in  Dublin,  he  was  ftrongly  fo- 
liated to  fettle  in  a  very  flattering  fituation  in  the 
neighbourhood  ;*  and  a  very  liberal  falary  was  offer- 
ed him.  On  his  pofitively  declining  it,  mention  was 
made  of  only^//#  months  of  the  year.  When  that  was 
declined,  three  months  were  propofed  ;  and  when  he 
was  about  to  anfwer  this  in  the  negative,  the  party  re- 
fufed  to  receive  his  anfwer,  defiring  him  to  take  time 
to  confider  of  it.  He  did  fo  ;  and  though  he  enter- 
tained a  very  grateful'  fenfe  of  the  kindnefs  and 
generofity  expreiTed  by  the  propofal,  yet  after  the 
matured  deliberation,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  de-t 
cline  it.  Mr.  Pearce's  modefty  prevented  his  talking 
on  fuch  a  fubjeft  ;  but  it  was  known  at  the  time  by 
his  friend  who  accompanied  him,  and  fince  his  death, 
has  been  frequently  mentioned  as  an  inftance  of  his 
di (Inter efted  fpirit. 

His  friends  at  Birmingham  were  ready  to  think  it 
hard  that  he  mould  be  fo  willing  to  leave  them  to^go 
en  a  million  among  the  heathen  \  but  they  could  not 
well  complain,  and  much  lefs  think  ill  of  him,  when 

they 

*  At  the  Black  Red,  the  refule nee  -of  £>me  of  the  jnoft  genteel 
families  in  the  vicinity  cf  Dublin. 


Mr,  Samuel  Pea-  7j 

they  faw  that  fuch  a  willingnefs  was  more  than  could- 
be  effected  by  the  mod  flattering  profpe&s  of  a 
worldly  nature,  accompanied  too  with  promifing  ap- 
pearances of  religious  ufefulnefs. 

About  a  month  after  his  return  from  Dublin,  Mr. 
Pearce  addrefled  a  letter  to  Mr.  Carey,  in  which  lie 
gives  fome  farther  account  of  Ireland,  as  well  as  of 
iome  other  interefting  matters  : — 

■  3irm':ngh:m^  AugvJ  I  a,  If  96. 

"  OH  my  dear  brother,  did  you  but  know  with 
what  feelings  I  refume  my  pen$  freely  to  correfpond 
with  you  after  receiving  your  very  affectionate  letter 
to  myfelf,  and  perafing  that  which  you  fent  by  the 
fame  conveyance  to  the  Society,  lam  lure  you  would 
perfuade  yourfelf  that  I  have  no  common  friendihip 
for  you,  and  that  your  regards  are  at  leaft  returned 
with  equal  ardor. 

*  I  fear  (I  had  almoft  laid)'  that  I  fhalr  never  fee 
your  face  in  the  flefh,  but  if  any  thing  can  acid  to  the. 
joy  which  the  prefence  of  Chrift,  and  conformity, 
perfect  conformity,  to  him  will  afford  in  heaven^ 
furely  the  certain  profpeft  of  meeting  with  my  dear 
brother  Carey  there,  is  one  of  (if  not)  the  greatelt, 
Thrice  happy  fhould  I  be,  if  the  providence  of  Gcd 
Mrould  open  a  way  for  my  partaking  of  your  labours, 
your  fufferings,  and  your  pleafures  on  this  fide  the 
eternal  world  :  but  all  my  brethren  here  are  of  a 
mind,  that  I  fhall  be  more  ufeful  at  home  than 
abroad  ;  and  I,  though  reludtantly,  fubmit.  Yet  I 
am  truly  with  you  in  fpirit.  My  heart  is  at  Mud- 
nabatty,  and  at  times  I  even  hope  to  find  my  body 
there  :  but  with  the  Lord  I  leave  it  *,  He  knows  my 
wifhes,  my  motives,  my  regret  ;  He  knows  all  my 
foul ;  and,  depraved  as  it  is,  I  feel  an  inexpreflible  fat- 
isfa£lion   that  he  does  know  it.     However,   it  is  a 

Juimhling 


y.6  Memoirs  of  thi  late, 

Irumbling  thought  to  me,  that  he  fees  I  am  unfit  for 
fuch  a  ftation,   and  unworthy  fuch  an  honour  as  to  - 
bear  his   name   among   the  heathen.     But  I  muft  be 
thankful  ft ill,  that  though  he  appoints  me  not  to  a  poft 
in  foreign  fervice,  he  will  allow  me  to  (land  centinel " 
a|  home.     In  this  fituation  may  I  have  grace  to  be  " 
faithful  unto  death  ! 

"  I  hardly  wonder  at  your  being  pained  on  account 
of  the  effects  produced  in  the  minds  of  your  Europe- 
an friends,  by  the  news  of  your  engagement  in  the 
Indigo,  bufmefs,  becaufe  I  imagine  yon  are  ignorant 
of  the  procefs  of  that  matter  amongft  us;     When  I. 
received  the  news,  I  glorified  God  in  fincerity,  on  ac- 
count of  it,  and  gave  moil  hearty  thanks  to  him  for 
his  moft  gracious  appearance  on  your  behalf  :    but  at 
the  i-f\mc  time  I  feared,  left  through  that  undertaking, 
die  work  of  the  Million  might  in  fome  way  or  other  . 
be  impeded.     The  fame  "  npreiHon  was  made  on  the. 
minds  of  many  others  :  yet  no  blame  was  attached,  iri 
our  view,  to  you-.     Our  minds  were  only  alarmed  for 
the   future  ;    not  difpofed   to   cenfurc   for    the   paft.  . 
Had  you.  feen  a   faithful   copy   of  the  prayers,   the 
praifes,  and  the  converfation  of  the  day  in  which  your 
letters  were  read^  I  know  you  would  not  have  enter- 
tained one  unkind  thought  of  the  Society  towards  you. < 
Oh  no,  my  dear  brother,  far.be  it  from  us  to  lay  an 
atom  upon  your  fpirits  of  a  painful  nature.     Need  I. 
( ty,  We  do  Jove,   we  do  refpect  you,  we  do  confide 
too  much  in  you  to  de/tgn  the  fmalleft  occafion  of  dif-- 
trefs  to  your  heart.     But  I  clofe  this  fubjecT:.  .  In  fu- 
ture we  will  atone  for  an  exprefhon  that  might  bear  a. 
harfh  conftrudlion.     We  will  ftrengthen,  we  .will  fup- 
port,  we  will  comfort-,  we  will  encourage  you  in  your 
arduous  work  : — all,  all  (hall  be  love  and  kind.nefs  ; 
glory  to  God,  and  good  will  to  men.     If  I  have  done 
aught  that  is  wrong,  as  an  individual,  pardon  me  :  If 
^e  have  faid  aught  amifs,  as  a  Society,  pardon  us,. 

Let; 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearee*  77 

Let  us  forbear  one  another  in  love,  forgiving  one 
another,  even  as  God  for  ChrifV6  fake  hath  forgiven 

"  By  the  time  this  reaches  you,  I  hops  you  will 
have  receiver*  Nos.  I.  unci  \L  of  Periediccd  Accounts. 
Should  vou  find  any  thing  in  them,  wh;ch  you  think 
had  better  be  omitted,  pray  be  free  in  mentioning  it, 

and  in  future  be  fully  attended 

to.      We  have   raken  ail  t:=e-  p..  1  all  the 

caution  hi  ceptionable  ; 

but  you  can  bstter  judge  in  fome  refpects  than  we.. 
If  you  fi>ouid  not  approve  of  all  (though  we  are  not 
confeious  of  any  tfci$g  that  ycu  will  duVpprove)  you. 
will  not  be  ouended,  but  believe  we  hvc  cloi.^  our. 
bell,  and  with  your  remarks,   hope  to  do  better  (till. 

<•  With  pJeafure,  approaching  to  rapture,  I  read  the 
lad  accounts  you  fent  us.  I  never  expe&ed  imme- 
diate fuccefs  :  the  proipecr,  is  truly  greater  than  my 
mod  fanguin^  hopes.  M  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is 
Ii*e  to  a  itm*  r^Wf!  hid  in  three  rneafures  of  meal,  tilt" 
the  whole  is  leavened."  Blefled  be  God  !  the  leaven- 
is  in  the  meal,  and  its  influence  is  already  difcovera- 
ble.  A  great  God  is  doing  great  things  by  vdtu 
Go  on,  my  deareft  brother,  go  on  •,  God  will  do> 
greater  things  than  thefe.  Jefus  is  worthy  of  a  ivor/d 
of  praife  :  and  Avail  Hindojian  not  praife  him  ?  Sure- 
3y  he  (hall  fee  of  the  travail  of  his  foul  ihcre^  and  the 
fower  and  the  reaper  fnall  rejoice  together.  Already 
the  empire  of  darknefs  totters,  and  foon  it  (hall  doubt- 
iefs  fall.  BleiTed  be  the  labourers  in  this  important 
work  ;  and  blelTed  be  He  who  giveth  them,  hearts  and 
ftrength  to  labour,  and  promifes  that  they  fnall  not- 
labour  in  vain  ! 

"  Do  not  fear  the  want  of  money.  God  is  for  us, 
and  the  filver  and  the  gold  are  his  \  and  fo  are  the  hearts 


7 8  Memoirs  of  the  kite 

of  thofe  who  pofiefs  the  moft:  oi  it.  L  will  travel 
from  the  Land's  end  to  the  Orkney's  but  we  will  get 
money  enough  for  all  the  demands  of.  the  miffion.  I 
have  never  had  a  fear  on  that  head  :  a  little  exertion 
will  do  wonders  ;  and  pad  experience  juftifies  every 
confidence.  Men%  we  only  want  \  and  God  fhail  find 
them  for  us  in- due  time. 

M  Is  brother  Fountain  arrived  ?  We  hope  he  will 
be  an  acceptable  remittance,  and,  viva  voce,  compen- 
fate  for  the  lack  of  epiftolary  communications. 

«  I  rejoice  in  contemplating  a  church  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift  in  Bengal,  formed  upon  his  own  plan. 
Why  do  not  the  Hindoo  converts  join  it  ?  Lord,  heJp 
their  unbelief !  But  perhaps  the  drop  is  now  with- 
held, that  you  may  by  and  by  have  the  mower,  and 
lift  up  your  eyes,  and  fay,  "  Thefe,  whence  came 
they  ?  They  fly  as  clouds,  dnd  as  doves  to  their  win- 
dowo."  For  three  years,  we  read  of  few  baptized  by- 
\ht  fnft  difciples  of  our  Lord  ;  but  oi*  the  fourth, 
three  thoufand,  and  five  thoufand  openly  avowed  him. 
The  Lord  fend  you  fuch  another  Pentecoft  ! 

m  I  intend  to  write  my  dear  brother  a  long  letter.- 
It  will  prove  my  defire  to  gratify  him,  if  it  do  no 
more,  I  wiftj  that  I  knew  in  what  communications 
your  other  correfpondents  will  be  mod.  deficient :  then 
I  would  try.  to  fupply  their  omifiions, 

"I  will  begin  with  myfelf  :  but  I  have  nothing  good 
to  fay.  I  think  I  am  the  moft  vile  ungrateful  fer- 
vent that  ever  Jefus  Chrift  employed  in  his  church. 
At  feme  times,  I  queftion  whether  I  ever  knew  the 
grace  of  God  in  truth  ;  and  at  others,  Lhefitate  on  the 
moft  important  points  of  Chriftian  faith.  I  have  lately 
had  peculiar  ftruggles  of  this  kind  with  my  own  heart, 
a#d  have  often. half  concluded  to  fpeak  no  more  in : 

the. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearcc.  79 

the  name  of  the  Lord.  When  I  am  preparing  for  the 
pulpit,  I  fear  I  am  going  to  avow  fables  for  fa£ts,  and 
doctrines  of  men  for  the  truths  of  God.  In  conver- 
sation I  am  obliged  to  be  filent,  left  my  tongue  (houlcl 
belie  my  heart.  In  prayer  I  know  not  what  to  fay, 
and  at  times  think  prayer  altogether  ufelefs.  Yet  I 
cannot  wholly  furrender  my  hope,  or  my  prbfeflion. 
Three  things  I  find,  above  all  others,  tend  to  my  -pre- 
servation : — Firft,  A  recolle&ion  of  a  time,  when,  at 
otice,  I  was  brought  to  abandon  the  practice  of  fins, 
which  the  fear  of  damnation  could  never  bring  me  to 
relinquifh  before.  Surely  I  fay,  this  muft  be  the  finger 
of  God,  according  to  the  fcripture  do&rine  of  regene- 
ration : — Secondly,  I  feel  fuch  a  confcioufnefs  of  guilt, 
that  nothing  but  the  gofpel  fcheme  can  fatisfy  my 
mind  refpe£ting  the  hope  of  falvation  : — and,  Thirdly, 
I  fee  that  what  true  devotion  does  appear  in  the 
world,  feems  only  to  be  found  among  thofe  to  whom 
Chrift  is  precious. 

"  But  I  frequently  find  a  backwardnefs  to  fecret 
prayer,  and  much  deadnefs  in  it  :  and  it  puzzles  me  to 
fee  how  this  can  be  confident  with  a  life  of  grace, 
However,  I  refolve,  that  let  what  will  become  of  me, 
I  will  do  all  I  can  for  God  while  I  live,  and  leave  the 
reft  to  him  ;  and  this  I  ufuaily  experience  to  be  the 
beft  way  to-be  at: peace. 

"  I  believe,  that  if  I  were  more  fully  given  *p  to 
God,  I  fhould  be  free  from  thefe  diftreffing  workings 
of  mind  ;  and  then  I  long  to  be  a  Mifiionary  where  I 
fhould  have  temptations  to  nothing  but  to  abound  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  lay  myfelf  entirely  out  for 
him.  In  fuch  a  fituatioa,  I  think  pride  would  have 
but  little  food,  and  faith  more  occafion  for  exercife  ; 
fo  that  the  fpiritual  life,  and  inward  religion,  woulcl 
thrive  better  than  they  do  now. 

"  At 


So  Menmrs  of  the  late 

"  At  times,  indeed,  I  do  feel,  I  truft,  genuine  con- 
trition, and  fincerely  lament  my  fhort-comings  before 
God.  Oh  the  iweets  that  accompany  true  repent- 
ance !  Yes,  I  love  to  be  abafed  before  God.  «  There 
it  is  I  find  my  blefiing.'  May  the  Lord  daily  and 
hourly  bring  me  low,  and  keep  me  fo  ! 

«  As  to  my  public  work,  I  find,  whilft  engaged  in  it, 
little  caufe  to  complain  for  want  either  of  matter  or 
^vords.  My  labours  are  acceptable,  and  not  altogeth- 
er unprofitable  to  the  hearers  :  but  what  is  this  to  me, 
if  my  own  foul  ftarves  whilft  others  are  fed  by  me  ? 
Oh,  my  brother,  I  need  your  prayers,  and  I  feel  a  great 
fatisfa&ion  in  the  hope  that  you  do  not  forget  me. 
Oh  that  Imay  be  kept  faithful  unto  death  !  Indeed, 
in  the  midft  of  my  ftrugglings,  a  gleam  of  hope,  that 
Ifnall  at  laft  awake  in  the  likenefs  of  God,  affords  me 
greater  joy  than  words  can  exprefs.  To  be  with 
Chrift,  is  far  better  than  to  continue  finning  here  : 
but  if  the  Lord  hath  any  thing  to  do  by  me,  His  will 
%e  done. 

"  I  have  never  fo  fully  opened  my  cafe  to  any  one 
before.  Your  freedom  on  fimilar  topics  encourages 
me  to  make  my  complaint  to  you,  and  I  think,  if  you 
were  near  me,  I  fhould  feel  great  relief  in  revealing  to 
you  all  my  heart.  Biit  I  fhall  fatigue  you  with  my 
moanings  \  fo  I  will  have  done  on  this  fubjedt. 

"  It  is  not  long  fmce  I  returned  from  a  kind  of 
million  to  Ireland.  A  fociety  is  eftablifhed  in  Dub- 
lin for  the  purpofe  of  inviting  from  England,  minis- 
ters of  various  denominations,  to  aflift  in  promoting 
the  interefts  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  there.  Some 
of  our  Baptift  brethren  had  been  there  before  me,  a5 
Rippon,  Langdon,  Francis,  and  Birt  ;  and  I  think  the 
plan  is  calculated  for  ufefulnefs.  \  have,  at  Dr.  Rip- 
pon's  requeft,  fent  him  fame  remarks  on  my  vifit,  for 

the 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  S  i 

the  Regiftet  ;  but  as  it  is  probable  you  will  receive 
this  before  that  comes  to  hand,  I  will  fay  fomething 
of  my  excurfion  here. 

«  Having  engaged  to  fpend  fix  Lord's  days  in  that 
kingdom,  I  arrived  there  the  day  before  the  firft  Sab- 
bath in  jane.  I  firft  made  myfelf  acquainted  with 
the  general  ftate  of  religion  in  Dublin.  I  found  there 
were  four  Prefbyterian  congregations  ;  two  of  thefe 
belong  to  the  fouthern  prefbytery,  and  are  Arians  or 
Socinians  ;  the  other  two  are  connected  with  the 
northern  prefbytery,  and  retain  the  Weftminfter  con- 
fefiion  of  faith.  One  of  thefe  latter  congregations  is 
very  final  1,  and  the  minifter,  though  orthodox,  ap- 
pears to  have  but  little  fuccefs.  The  other  is  large 
and  flourifhing  :  the  place  of  worfhip  ninety  feet  by 
feventy,  and,  in  a  morning,  well  filled.  Their  times 
of  public  fervice  are  at  half  pad  eleven,  and  five.  In 
the  afternoon,  the  ufual  congregations  are  fmall  in- 
deed ;  for  five  o'clock  is  the  dining  hour  in  Dublin, 
and  few  of  the  hearers  would  leave  their  dinners  for 
the  gofpel.  Dr.  Mc.  Dowal  is  the  fenior  paftor  of 
this  church, — a  very  affectionate,  fpiritual  man.  The 
junior  is  Mr.  Horner.  The  doftor  is  a  warm  friend 
to  the  Society,  at  whofe  requeft  I  went  over  to  Ireland, 

"  There  is  one  congregation  of  Burgher  Seceders, 
and  another  of  Antiburghers.  The  latter  will  not 
hear  any  man  who  is  not  of  their  own  caft  ;  the  for- 
mer are  much  more  liberal.  I  preached  for  them 
once,  and  they  aiTeclionately  folicited  a  repetition  of 
my  fer vices.  * 

"  Lady  Huntingdon's  connexion  has  one  fociety 
heVe,  the  only  one  in  the  kingdom,  perhaps,  except  at 
Shgo,  where  there  is  another.  It  is  not  large,  and  I 
fear  rather  declining.  There  is  not  one  independent 
church  in  the  kingdom.  There  were  ten  Baptift  So- 
H  cteties 


82  Memoirs  tf  the  late 

cieties  in  Ireland  :  they  are  now  reduced  to  fix  ;  and 
are,  I  fear,  ftill  on  the  decline. 

«  The  inhabitants  of  Dublin  feem  to  be  chiefly 
compofed  of  two  clafles  :  the  one  affiime  the  appear- 
ance of  opulence  -,  the  other  exhibit  marks  of  the  moft 
abject  poverty  ;  and  as  there  are  no  parifhes  in  Ire- 
land which  provide  for  the  poor,  many  die  every  year 
for  want  of  the  neceflaries  of  life. 

"  Moft  of  the  rich  are  by  profeflion  proteftants  ; 
the  poor  are  nearly  all  papifts,  and  ftrongly  preju- 
diced again  ft  the  reformed  religion.  Their  ignorance 
and  fuperftiticn  are  fcarcely  inferior  to  your  miferable 
Hindoos.  On  midfummer  day  I  had  an  affe&ing 
proof  of  the  latter.  On  the  public  road,  about  a 
mile  from  Dublin,  is  a  well,  which  was  once  includ- 
ed in  the  precincts  of  a  priory,  dedicated  to  St.  John 
of  Jerufalem.  This  well  is  in  high  repute  for  curing 
a  number  of  bodily  complaints,  and  its  virtues  are 
faid  to  be  moft  efficacious  on  the  faint's  own  day. 
So  from  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  for  twenty-four 
hours,  it  becomes  the  rendezvous  for  all  the  lame, 
blind,  and  other  wife  difeafed  people,  within  a  circuit 
of  twenty  miles.  Here  they  brought  old  and  young, 
and  applied  the  "  holy  water,"  both  internally  and 
externally  ;  fome  by  pouring,  fome  by  immerfion,  and 
all  by  drinking  :  whilft,  for  the  good  of  thofe  who 
could  not  come  in  perfon,  their  friends  filled  bottles 
with  the  efficacious  water  to  ufe  at  home.  Several  I 
faw  on  their  knees  before  the  well,  at  their  devotions, 
who  were  not  unfrequently  interrupted  with  a  glafs 
of  whilkey.  With  this  they  were  fupplied  from  a 
number  of  dealers  in  that  article,  who  kept  ftandings 
all  round  the  well. 

«  Near  the  fpot,  was  a  church-yard  where  great 
numbers  kneeled  upon  the  tombs  of  their  deceafed 

relatives, 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearcc.  S 


o 


relatives,  and  appeared  earneftly  engaged  in   praying 
for  the  repofe  of  their  fouls. 

"  It  was  truly  a  lamentable  fight.  My  heart  ached 
at  their  delufions,  whilft  I  felt  gratitude,  I  hope,  un- 
feigned, for  an  acquaintance  with  the  '  water  of  life, 
of  which,  if  a  man  drink,  he  fhall  live  forever  !' 

"  There  are  few,  or  none,  of  the  middle  ciafs  to 
connetk  the  rich  and  the  poor,  fo  that  favourable  ac- 
cefs  to  them  is  far  more  difficult  than  to  the  lower 
orders  of  the  people  in  England  •,  and  their  priefts 
hold  them  in  fuch  bondage,  that  if  a  catholic  fervant 
only  attend  on  family  worfhip  in  a  proteftant  houfe, 
penance  muft  be  performed  for  the  offence. 

S.  P-" 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  his  having 
"  formed  a  pleafing  acquaintance  with  feveral  ferious 
young  gentlemen  of  the  Univerfity  of  Dublin/'*  The 
following  h:ter  was  addreiTed  to  one  of  them,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Matthias,  a  few  months  after  his  return  : — 

"  Dear  brother  Matthias, 

u  I  HAVE  been  employed  this  whole  day  in 
writing  letters  to  Dublin  ;  and  it  is  the  firft  day  I  have 
been  able  to  redeem  for  that  purpofe.  I  will  not  con- 
fume  a  page  in  apology.  Let  it  fuffice  to  fay,  that 
necefiity,  not  difinclination,  has  detained  from  my 
Iriih  friends,  thofe  proofs  of  my  gratitude  and  efteem, 
which  in  oth^r  circumftances  I  ought  to  have  prefent- 
ed  three  months  ago.  I  thought  this  morning  of  an- 
fwering  all  their  demands  before  I  flept  :    but  I  have 

written 

*  P.  6£.. 


84  Memoirs  of  the  late 

written  fo  many  v  I  full,  that  I   find  my 

eyes  and  my  fingers  bori  fail ;  and  I  believe  this  nuft 
clofe  my  intercourfe  with  Dublin  this  day.  When  I 
fhall  be  able  to  complete  my  purpofe,  I  do  not  know. 
To  form  friendships  with  good  men  is  pleafant  \  but 
to  maintain  all  -hat  communion^  which  fri  p   ex- 

pects, is  In  fome  cafes  very  difficult.     H;  <*]d  I 

be,  could  I  meet  my  Iriih  friends  in  pr<  t 
initead  of  fitting  in  iolitude,  and  maintaining,  by  the 
tedious  medium  of  the  pen,  this  diftant  intercourfe. 
But,  The  Lord,  he  /hall  choofe  our  inheritance  for  us. 
Were  ail  the  planets  of  our  fyftem  embodied,  and 
placed  in  clofe  aflbciation,  the  light  would  be  greater, 
and  the  objecl:  grander  *,  but  then,  ufefulnefs  and  fyf- 
tematic  beauty  confift  in  their  difperfion  :  and  what 
are  we,  my  brother,  but  fo  many  fatellitCs  to  Jefus, 
the  great  Sun  of  the  Chriftian  iyitem  ?  Some,  indeed, 
like  burning  mercuries,  keep  nearer  the  luminary, 
and  receive  more  of  its  light  and  heat,  whilft  others, 
like  the  ringed  planet,  or  the  Georgium  Sidus,  pre- 
ierve  a  greater  diftance,  and  reflect  a  greater  portion 
of  his  light  :  yet  if,  amidft  all  this  diverfity,  they  belong 
io  the  fyftem7  two  tilings  may  be  affirmed  of  all  : — all 
keep  true  to  one  centre,  and  borrow  whatever  light 
they  have  from  one  fource.  True  it  is,  that  the  fur- 
ther they  are  from  the  fun,  the  longer  are  they  in 
performing  their  revolutions  :  and  is  not  this  exem- 
plified in  us  ?  The  ^lofer  we  keep  to  Jefus,  the  more 
brilliant  are  our  graces,  the  more  cheerful  and  active 
are  our  lives  \  but  alaa  we  are  all  comets  ;  we  all 
move  in  eccentric  orbits  :  at  one  time  glowing  be- 
neath the  ray  divine,  at  another  freezing  a&d  cong< 
ing  the  icicles.     '  Oh  what  a  miracle  to  man  is  man  !' 

"  Little  did  I  think  when  I  begun  this  letter,  that  I 
iliould  have  thus  indulged  myfelf  in  allegory  :  but  true 
friendihip,  I  believe,  always  dictates  extempore  •,  and 
my  friends  mufl  never  expect  from  me  a  ftudied  epif- 

tle. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  85: 

tie.  They  can  meet  with  better  thoughts,  than  I  can 
furnifh  them  with,  in  any  bookfeller's  (hop.  It  is  not 
the  dim,  however  well  it  may  be  cooked,  that  gives 
the  reliih,  but  the  fweet  fauce  of  friendfhip  \  and  this, 
I  think  fometimes,  makes  even  nonfenfe  palatable. 

«  But  I  have  fome  queftions  to  put  to  you  : — firft, 
how  are  all  my  college  friends,  Meiirs.  Walker,  Ma- 
turin,  Hamilton,  &c.  ?  How  is  their  health  ?  But 
chiefly,  how  are  the  interefts  of  religion  among  you  ? 
Are  any  praying  ftudents  added  to  your  number  ?  Do 
all  thole  you  thought  well  of  continue  to  juftify  their 
profeffion  ?  You  know  what  it  is  that  interefts  me. 
Pray  tell  me  all,  whether  it  makes  me  weep,  or  rejoice. 

u  I  hope  Mr.  H — 's  miniftry  was  blefled  in  Dublin. 
Do  you  know  any  inftances  of  it  ?  We  muft  fow  in 
hope,  and  I  truft  that  we  {hall  all  gather  fruit  to  eter- 
nal life,  even  where  the  buddings  have  never  appear- 
ed to  us  in  this  world.  How  is  it  with  your  own 
foul  ?  I  thank  God  I  never,  I  think,  rejoiced  habitu- 
ally fo  much  in  him  as  I  have  done  of  late.  «  God  is 
love.9  That  makes  me  h~ppy.  I  rejoice  that  Got! 
reigns  ;  that  he  reigns  over  all  v  that  he  reigns  over 
me  ;  over  my  croiies,  my  comforts,  my  family,  my 
friends,  my  fenfes,  my  mental  powers,  my  defigns, 
my  words,  my  preaching,  my  conduct  \  that  he  is 
God  over  ally  bleffed  forever.  I  am  willing  to  live, 
yet  I  long  to  die,  to  be  freed  from  all  error  and  all. 
iin.  I  have  nothing  elfe  to  trouble  me  ;  no  other 
crofs  to  carry.  The  fun  {nines  without  all  day  long  ; 
but  I  am  fenfible  of  internal  darknefs..  Well,  through 
grace,  it  {hall  be  all  light  by  and  by.,  Yes,  you  and  I 
{hall  be  angels  of  light  ;  all  mercuries  then  ;  all  near 
the  fun  ;  always  in  motion  ;  always  glowing  with 
zeal,  and  flaming  with  love.  Oh  for  the  new  heavens 
and  the  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteoufnefs  ! 

H    2  <  Qh^ 


86  Memoirs  of  the  late 

'  Oh  what  love  and  concord  there, 
k        And  what  fweet  harmony 

In  heaven  above,  where  happy  fouls 

Adore  thy  Majefty. 
Oh  how  the  heavenly  choirs  all  fing 
To  Him,  who  fits  enthron'd  above  : 

What  admiring  ! 

And  afpiring  ! 

Still  defiring  : — 
Oh  how  I  long  to  fee  this  feafl  of  love  V 

"  Will  you  tell  brother  M that  I  wait  an  op- 
portunity to  fend  a  parcel  to  him  ?  In  that  I  will  in— 
dcfe  a  letter.     My  very  affectionate  refpecls  to  him, 

an^  Mr.  H ,  wich  all  my  college  friends  as  though 

named.  If  you  be  not  weary  of  fuch  an  eccentric 
correfpondent,  pray  do  not  be  long  ere  you  write  to 
your  unworthy,  but  affectionate  brother  in  Chrift, 

S.  P." 


A  while  after  this,  he  thus  writes  to  his  friend,  Mr. 
Summers  : — 

"  December,  1795.  I  rejoice  that  you  have  been 
fupported  under,  and  brought  through  your  late  trials. « 

I  do  not  wonder  at  it,  for  it  is  no  more  than  God  has 
promifed  ;  and  though  we  may  well  wonder  that  he 
promifes  any  thing,  yet  his  performance  is  no  juft 
ground  of  furprife  ;  and  when  we  find  ourfelves  lb 
employed,  we  had  better  turn  our  wonder  to  our  own 
unbelief,  that  for  one  moment  fufpected  God  would 
not  be  as  good  as  his  word. 

"  I  have  been  lately  more  than  ever  delighted  with 
the  thought,  that  God  kath  engaged  to  do  any  thing 
for  fuch  worms  as  we.  I  never  ftudied  the  cieiftical 
controverfy  fo  much,  nor  ever  rejoiced  in  rey< 

more. 


Mr.  Samuel  Peai  87 

more.  Alas  !  what  fhould  we  know,  if  God  had  not 
condefcended  to  teach  us.  Paul  very  juftly  remarks, 
that  no  one  fcrtoweth  any  thing  of  God,  but  the  Spirit 
of  God,  and  he  to  whom  the  Spirit  revealeth  him. 
Now  the  Spirit  hath  revealed  God  in  the  bible,  bat  to 
an  unbeliever  the  bible  is  a  fealed  book.  He  can 
know  nothing  from  a  book  that  he  looks  upon  as  an 
impofture,  and  yet  there  is  no  other  book  in  which 
God  is  revealed  ;  fo  that  to  reject  the  bible,  is  to 
immerfe  ourielves  in  darknefs,  and  whilft  profeffing 
to  be  wife,  actually  to  become  a  fool  •,  whereas,  no 
fooner  do  we  bencve  what  the  Spirit  faith,  than  unto 
us  is  God  revealed,  and  '  in  his  light  do  we  fee  light/ 

To  the  above  may  be  added,  a  few  extracts  of  let- 
ters, which  he  addrefied  to  his  friends  in  1797,  and 
1798. 

To   Dr.    RYLAND. 

"  Magc&\  1  797; 

«  DURING  the  iail  three  weeks,  I  have,  at 
times,  been  very  poorly,  in  colds,  &c.  Am  better 
now,  and  have  been  all  along  affifted  in  going  through. 
my  public  duties.  Let  us  continue  to  pray  for  each 
other,  till  death  makes  it  a  needlefs  ferviee.  How 
uncertain  is  life,  and  what  a  blefling  is  death  to  a. 
faint  !  I  feein  lately  to  feci  a  kind  of  affetfkn  for 
death.  Methinks  if  it  were  vifible,  I  cou4ci  embrace 
it.  *  Welcome  herald,  that  bids  the  prifoner  be  free  ; 
that  announces  the  dawn  of  everbiting  day  ;  that 
bids  the  redeemed  come  to  Zion  with  everbiting  joy, 
to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  an  erroneous  ju 
and  a  depraved  heart.'     To  believe,  to  feel,  to  fjpeak, 

to 


83  Memoirs  of  the  late 

to  act:  exactly  as  God  will  have  me  ;  to  be  wholly  ab- 
sorbed and  taken  up  with  him  ;  this,  this,  nothing 
fhort  of  this  can  make  my  blifs  complete.  But  all  this 
is  mine.  Oh  the  height,  the  depth,  the  length,  the 
breadth  of  redeeming  love  !  It  conquers  my  heart, 
and  conftrains  me  to  yield  myfelf  a  living  facrifice, 

acceptable   to  God,  through  Jefus  Chrifl. My 

dear  brother,  we  have  had  many  happy  meetings  up- 
on earth  :  the  bed  is  in  referve. 

*  No  heart  upon  earth  can  conceive 

The  blifs  that  in  heaven  they  fhare ; 
Then,  who  this  dark  world  would  not  leave, 

And  cheerfully  die  to  be  there  !' 

"  Oh  how  full  of  love,  and  joy,  and  praife,  fhall 
we  be  when  that  happy  ffcate  is  curs  !  Well,  yet  a. 
little  while,  and  He  that  fhall  come,  will  come  : 
Even  fo  come,  Lord  Jefus  !  My  dear  brother,  for- 
give the  hafty  effufions  of  a  heart  that  loves  you  in 
the  bowels  of  Jefus,  and  is  always  happy  in  teftify- 
ing  itfelf  to  be 

Affectionately  yours, 

S.P." 

To   Mr.   CAVE. 
On  the  faffing  away  of  feme  who  had  promiftd  fair  in 


religion. 


1/97- 


"  I  THANK  you,  my  dear  brother,  for  the 
confidence  you  repofe  in  me,  the  affection  you  have 
for  me,  and  the  freedom  with  which  you  write  to 
me.  Affure  yourfelf  that  I  fincerely  fympathize  in 
the  cutting  events  which  you  have  lately  experienced. 
Trying  indeed  !   Your  heart  mull  bleed.     Yet  be  not 

difcouraged. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  89 

difcouraged  in  your  work.  The  mors  fat  an  oppofes 
Chrifty  the  more  let  us  oppofe  kirn.  He  comes  witli 
great  violence  becaufe  his  time  is  fliort.  His  king- 
dom is  on  the  decline;  his  ftrong  holds  are  bcfiegedi 
and  he  knows  they  mud  foon  be  taken.  Whilft  it 
Lifts,  he  is  making  defperate  tallies  on  the  armies  of 
the  Lamb.  It  is  no  great  wonder  that  he  fights  and  , 
wounds  a  raw  recruit  now  .  \,  who  il rays  from 

the  camp,  and  though tlefs  of  the  danger,  keeps  nor 
clofe  by  the  Captain's  tent.  I  hope  our  glorious 
Leader  will  heal  the  wounded,  and  fecure  the  captive. 
He  is  fare  to  make  reprifals.  Chrift  will  have  ten  to 
one.  You  will  yet  fee  his  arm  made  bare.  He  mall 
go  forth  like  a  man  of  war.  The  prifoners  ihali  be 
redeemed,  Mid  the  old  tyrant  ftiall  be  call  into  the 
bottcmlefs  pit.  Be  of  good  cheer,  my  fellow  foldier. 
The  caufe  is  not  ours,  but  God's.  Let  us  endure 
Inefs,  and  (till  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith.  At 
we  (hail  come  off  conquerors,  through  Him  whg 
hath  loved  us. 

"  I  hope  you  have  fome  caufes  for  joy,  as  well  as 
grief.     I  )Ugh  OTie>  or  two,  or  three  fall,  the 

tens,  and  the  twenties  ftand  their  ground.  Oh  do 
what  you  can  to  cheer  them  under  the  common  trial. 
Let  them  not  fee  a  faint  heart  in  y.it.  Fight  manful- 
ly (till.  Tell  them  to  watch  the  more  •,  to  pray  the 
harder  ;  to  walk  the  clofer  with  God.  So  out  of  the 
eater  (hall  come  forth  meat,  and  iweetnefs  out  of  the 
ftrong,  S.  P." 

To  Mr.   BATES  and  Mrs.   BARNES, 

Who  'r.zz.  been  burnt  out  cf  their  refidence, 

"  THE  many  expreilions  of  Chriftian  friend  {hip 
which  I   received   from   you,   and   your   affectionate 

families, 


90  Memoirs  of  the  late 

families,  during  my  laft  vifit  to  London,  will  often 
excite  grateful  recollection  in  future,  as  they  have  al- 
moft  daily  fmce  I  parted  from  you  ;  and  though  I  do 
not  write  this  avowedly  as  a  mere  letter  of  acknowl- 
edgment, yet  I  wifli  it  to  affiire  you,  that  I  am  not 
forgetful  of  my  friends,  nor  unthankful  for  their  kind- 
nefs.  May  all  the  favour  you  {hew  to  the  fervants  of 
our  common  Lord  for  his  fake,  be  amply  recompeni- 
ed  in  prefent  peace,  and  future  felicity,  when  the 
promife  of  Him  who  cannot  lie,  (hall  be  fulfilled, — 
c  A  cup  of  cold  water  given  to  a  difciple,  in  the  name 
of  a  difciple,  fliali  not  Icfe  its  reward.' 

"  But,  whilft  you,  my  dear  friends,  live  c  in  hope 
of  the  glory*  that  remains  i  to  be  revealed,'  I  am  per- 
fuaded  that  you  expect  all  as  the  fruit  of  fovereign 
mercy,  which  firfl  forms  us  to  the  mind  of  Chrift, 
then  accepts,  and  then  rewards.  Truly,  if  finners  be 
rewarded,  it  mull  be,  c  of  grace,  and  not  of  debt.' 
Yet  it  is  a  mercy  of  unfpeakable  magnitude,  that 
grace  {hould  eitablilh  a  connexion  between  obedi- 
ence and  enjoyment  ;  fuch  a  connexion,  as  at  once 
infures  joy  to  the  believer,  and  glory  to  Chrift. 

"  Oh  that  cur  thoughts,  our  affections,  our  dcfires, 
may  be  much  in  heaven  !  Here,  you  have  been 
taught,  is  *  no  continuing  city,'  no  certain  place  of 
abode  ;  and  though  you  have  been  taught  it  awfully 
in  flames,  yet  if  you  learn  it  effectually,  the  terror  of 
the  means  will  be  conquered  by  the  excellency  and 
glory  of  the  confequences.  Yes,  my  friends,  «  in 
heaven  we  have  a  better  and  enduring  fubftance  :' 
the  apartments  there  are  more  fpacious  ;  the  fociety 
more  fweet  ;  the  enjoyments  more  perfect  \  and  all 
to  laft.  forever.  Well  may  Chriftians  i  rejoice  in  hope 
of  the  glory  cf  God  !.' 

S.  P." 

To 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  91 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  BOWYER,  Pall  Mail. 

u  November  I  7,  I  797. 

«  BLESSED  be  «  the  Preferver  of  men,'  for 

all  his  goodnefs  to  dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B .     With 

theirs,  mall  my  gratitude  alfo  afcend>  whilfl  feparated 
from  their  fociety  *,  and  with  theirs,  fhall  it  more 
warmly  and  permanently  afcend  when  we  meet  to 
form  a  part  of  the  '  general  aflembly,  the  church  of 
the  firft-born.' 

"  I  do  not  return  to  London  this  autumn,  but  I 
mean  to  vifit  Portfmouth.  I  muft  be  indebted  to  you 
for  my  directions.  We  fhall  be  very  happy  to  fee 
you  at  Luke-ftreet  :  but  Wales  I  fuppofe  will  be  the 
vortex  that  will  fwallow  up  much  of  your  time. 
Well,  fo  you  are  happy,  we  muft  be  difinterefted 
enough  to  be  fatisfied,  although  we  be  denied  a  per* 
fonal  participation. 

"  Let  us  not  forget  that  we  are  Chriftians  ;  and 
Chriftians  profefs  a  hope  of  a  better  country  than 
Cambria  contains.  There^  we  all  belong.  Already 
citizens  by  privilege,  we  fhall  be  by  pofleflion  foon, 

1  Roll  fwifter  round,  ye  wheels  of  tiire, 
And  bring  the  welcome  day  V 

"  In  hope  of  greeting  you  both  in  that  good  land, 
I  remain,  nioft  affectionately  yours* 

S.  P.* 

To   Dr.   RYLAND. 

"  November  17,  1 797. 

^       "  I  FEEL  much  for  you  in  relation  both  to 
t™duties  and  trials  of  your  prefent  fituation  :  at  the 

fame 


0  2  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fame  time  I  blefs  God  who  fixed  you  in  it,  becaufe  I 
am  perfuaded  that  it  will  be  for  his  glory  in  the 
churches  of  Chrift.  And  though"'*  none  but  thofe, 
whole  hands  are  full  of  religious  concerns,  can  guefs 
at  your  difficulties  ;  yet  our  blefled  Redeemer  knows 
them  all.  Oh,  my  brother,  you  are  travailing  for 
Him,  who  redeemed  you  by  his  blood  ;  who  fympa- 
thizes  with  you,  and  who  will  gracioufly  crown  you 
at  laft.  Small  as  my  trials  are,  I  would  turn  fmith, 
and  work  at  the  anvil  and  the  forge,  rather  than  bear 
them  for  any  other  mailer  than  ChriJ}.  Yet  were 
they  ten  thoufand  times  as  many  as  they  are,  the 
thought  of  their  being  for  Him>  I  truft,  would  fweet- 
cn  them  all. 

u  I    have   reafon  to  be  very  thankful   for   much 
pleafure  of  late,  both  as  a  Chrift ian,  and  a  minifter. 

1  have  never  felt  fo  deeply  my  need  of  a  Divine  Re- 
deemer, and  feldom  pofleffed  fuch  folid  confidence 
that  he  is  mine.  I  want  more  and  more  to  become  a 
little  child,  to  dwindle  into  nothing  in  my  own  ef- 
teem,  to  renounce  my  own  wifdom,  power  and  gcod- 
nefs,  and  fimply  look  to,  and  live  upon  Jesus  for  ail. 
I  am  aihamed  that  I  have  fo  much  pride,  fo  much 
feif-wiil.  Oh  mv  Saviour  !  make  me  (  meek  and  low- 
ly in  heart;'  in  this  alone  I  find  c  reft  to  my  foul.' 

"  I  could  fay  much  of  what  Immanuel  has  done 
for  my  foul ;  but  I  fear  left  even  this  fliouid  fivour  of 
vanity.  When  (hail  I  be  like  my  Lord  !  Oh  wel- 
come death,  when  I  have  nothing  more  to  do  for 
Chrift.  To  him,  till  then,  may  I  live  uvery  clay  and 
every  hour.  Rather  may  I  be  annihilated  than  not 
to  him  ! 

"  You  will  rejoice  with  me  to  hear  that  we  have  a 
tfing  profpect  as  a  church.     Several  very  hopeful, 

arid 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  g$ 

and  fome  very  valuable  characters  are  about  to  join 
us.     Lord,  carry  on  thy  work ! 


S.  P." 


►•«>c^<g£KS>. 


To    Mrs.    PEARCE, 
On  the  dangerous  illnefs  of  cute  of  the  children. 

"  Purtfinouthi  January  29,  1 

«  IGNORANT  of  the  circum (lances  ot  our 
dear  child,  how  fhall  I  addreis  rpyfelf  to  her  dearer 
mother  !  With  a  fluttering  heart,  and  a  trembling 
hand,  I,  in  this  uncertainty,  refume  my  pen.  One 
consideration  tranquillizes  my  mind, — I  and  mine  are 
in  the  hands  of  God  :  the  wife,  the  gocd,  the  indul- 
gent Parent  of  mankind  !  "Whatever  he  docs  is  beft. 
I  am  prepared  for  all  his  will,  and  hope  that  i  fhail 
never  have  a  feeling,  whofe  language  is  not,  <  Thy 
will  be  done.' 

M  I  am  nioft  kindly  entertained  here  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shoveller  ;  and  except  my  dear  Sarah's  prefence, 
feel  myfelf  at  home.  They  have  had  greater  trials 
than  ive  can  at  preient  know.  They  have  attended 
/even  children  to  the  gloomy  tomb  ;  they  have  been 
Supported  beneath  their  lofs,  by  Him  who  hath  faid, 
'  As  thy  days,  fo  fhall  thy  ftrength  be.'  Mrs.  S.  tells 
me,  flie  <  blefled  God  for  all/  May  my  dear  Sarah 
be  enabled  to  do  the  fame,  whatever  the  refult  may 
prove.  To-morrow  I  exptft  another  letter  from  you  ; 
yet,  left  you  ihould  too  much  feel  my  ab  fence,  I  will 
not  delay  forwarding  this  a  tingle  port.  O  that  it  may- 
prove  in  fome  degree  a  meiienger  of  confolation  ! 

"  Yefterday  I  preached  three  times  :  God  was  very 

good.     I  received  your  letter  before  the  firft  fervice  : 

you  mnv  be  allured  that  I  bore  you  on  my  heart  in 

I  the 


94  Memoirs  of  the  hit 

the  prefence  of  my  Lord  and  yours  ;  nor  ihall  I  pray 
in  vain  :  He  will  either  reftore  the  child,  or  fupport 
you  under  the  lofs  of  it.  I  dare  not  pray  with  im- 
portunity for  any  earthly  good  ;  for  i  who  knoweth 
what  is  good  for  man  in  this  life,  all  the  days  of  his 
vain  life  which  he  fpendeth  as  a  lhadow  ?'  But Jlrength 
to  bear  the  lofs  of  earthly  comforts,  he  has  promifed  : 
for  that  I  importune  ;  and  that,  I  doubt  not,  will  be 
granted, 

«  In  a  hcufe  dire&ly  oppofite  to  the  window  before 
which  I  now  write,  a  wife,  a  mother,  is  juft  departed  ! 
"Why  am  I  not  a  bereaved  hufband  ?  Why  not  my 
children  motherlefs  ?  When  we  compare  cur  condi- 
tion with  cur  wifhes,  we  often  complain  :  but  if  we 
compare  it  with  that  of  many  around  us,  our  com- 
plaints would  be  exchanged  for  gratitude  and  praife. 

S.  P.* 

To  R.  BOWYER,  Efq. 

"  Felrtfcry  1 4,  179$- 

"  NOT  a  day  has  hurried  by,  fince  I  parted 
with  my  dear  friends  in  Pail  Mall,  but  they  have  been 
in  my  affectionate  remembrance  ;  but  not  being  able 
to  fpeak  with  any  fatisfaflion  refpe&ing  our  dear 
child,  I  have  withheld  myfclf  from  imparting  new 
anxieties  to  bofoms  already  alive  to  painful  fenfibility. 

«  At  length,  however,  a  gracious  God  puts  it  in 
rey  power  to  fay,  that  there  is  hope.  After  langtiifh- 
irg  between  life  and  death  for  many  days,  fhe  now 
fecms  to  amend.  We  fitter  curfelves  that  fhe  has 
palled  thecrifis,  and  will  yet  be  reftered  to  cur  arms  ; 
but  parental  fears  forbid  too  flrong  a  confidence.  It 
may  be  that  our  mod   merciful  Gcd  faw  that*  the 

ihock 


Mr.  Semiiel  Pearce.  95 

fliock  of  a  fudden  removal  would  be  too  ftroiig  for  the 
tender  feelings  of  a  mother  ;  and  fo  by  degrees,  pre- 
pares for  the  ftroke  which  mull  fall  at  lail.  Howev- 
er, ihe  is  in  the  beft  hands,  and  we  are,  I  hope,  pre- 
paring for  fubmiifi-on  to  whatever  may  be  the  blefled 
will  of  God.- 

"  I  was  brought  home  in  fafety,  and  feel  myfelf  in 
much  better  health  in  confequence  of  my  journey.  Oh 
that  it  may  be  all  confecrated  to  my  Redeemer's  praife  ! 

"  Happy  ihould  I  be,  if  I  could  oftener  enjoy  your 
friendly  fociety  ;  but  we  mud  wait  for  the  full  ae- 
compiithment  of  our  fecial  wifhes,  till  we  come  to 
that  .better  world,  for  which  divine  grace  is  preparing 
us  : — There  our  bed,  our  brighteit  hopes,  and  there 
our  warmeft  affections  muft  be  found.  Could  we 
have  all  we  want  below,  we  mould  be  reluctant  to  af- 
cend,  when  Jefus  calls  us  home.  No,  this  is  not  our 
reft  •>  it  is  polluted  with  fin,  and  darned  with  lbrrow  : 
but  though  our  pains  in  themfelves  are  evil,  yet  our 
God  turns  the  curfe  into  a  blefiing,  and  makes  all  that 
we  meet  with  accomplifh  our  good. 

"  "What  better  can  I  wiih,  my  friends,  than  the 
humble  place  of  Mary,  or  the  happy  reft  of  John  ! 
Faith  can  enjoy  them  both,  till  actually  we  fall  at  the 
Saviour's  feet,  and  lean  upon  his  bofom,  when  we  fee 
him  as  he  is. 

*  Oh  the  delights,  the  heav'nly  joys, 

The  glories  of  the  place, 
W-here  Jefus  fheds  the  brighfeft  beam* 

<tf  his  olerfiowing  gra<;e  !' 

s.  P." 

LINES 


9  6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

LINES 

WRITTEN  ON  THE  WORDS  OF  IGNATIUS,- 

"  My  Love  is  crucified"* 


JYIeum  Desiderium  crucifixum  est. 

"  WARM  was  his  heart,  his  faith  was  ftrong, 

Who  thus  in  rapture  cry'd, 
When  on  his  way  to  martyrdom, 

My  Love  is  crucify9  J. 

Warm  alfo  be  my  love  for  Him, 

Who  thus  for  fnmers  dy'd  ; 
Long  as  I  live  be  this  my  theme, 

My  Love  is  crucify9 J. 

Come,  oh  my  foul,  behold  him  pierc'd 

In  hands,  and  feet,  and  fide; 
And  fey,  while  he's  in  blood  immers'd> 

My  Love  is  crucify1 d+ 

What  lover  ere  to  win  my  heart, 

So  much  has  done  befide  ? 
To  him  I'll  cleave,  and  never  part ; 

My  Love  is  crucify9  d. 

Oh  that  in  Jefus'  wounds,  my  foul 

Secure,  m ay  ever  hide, 
And  fing,  as  changing  feafons  roll, 

My  Love  is  crucify' J. 


In 


*  When  Ignatius,  prilor  of  the  church  at  Antioch,  was  condemned 
by  the  emperor,  Trajan,  to  fufTer  death  at  Rome,  he  was  apprehen- 
sive that  the  Chriftians  there,  out  of  their  great  affection  for  him, 
might  endeavour  to  prevent  his  martyrdom  ;  and  therefore  wrote 
a  letter  from  Smyrna  to  the  Roman  Chriftians,  which  he  fent  on  be- 
fore him,  wherein  he  earneftly  befeeches  them  to  take  no  meafures 
the  continuance  of  his  life;  and  amongfl  other  things,  fays,  M  I 
long  for.  death,"  adding  as  a  reafon  why  he  was  cfcfirous  of  thus  tes- 
tifying- his  ioye  to  Chrift.  w  My  Love  is  crucified." 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  97 

In  feafons  oft,  when  bow'd  with  fear, 

My  trembling  heart  has  figh'd, 
This  thought  again  brings  comfort  near, 
My  Love  is  crucify  d* 

To  what  a  teft  his  love  was  put,- 

When  by  his  furPrings  try'd. 
But  faithful  to  the  end  endur'd  ; 

My  Love  is  crucify9 J, 

His  garments  white  as  wintry  fnows,< 

In  crimfon  floods  were  dy'd  ; 
Hence  fpring  the  bleffings  he  beftows  ?. 

My  Love  is  crucify' d, 

Down  from  his  wounded  body  flowed 

The  all-atoning  tide, 
Which  peace  reftor'd  'twixt  me  and  God  £ 

My  Love  is  crucify V. 

Now,  by  the  Croft,  is  hell  fubdu'd, 

And  all  its  pow'rs  defy'd  ; 
It  yields  to  Jefus'  ccnqu'ring  blood  3 

My  Love  is  crucify'd. 

Ne'er  may  my  dear  defpifed  Lord 

By  me  be  once  deny'd  ;  # 

My  joy,  my  crown,  my  boaft  be  this,, 

My  Love  is  crucify' d+ 

Dead  be  my  heart  to  all  below, 

In  Chriit  may  I  abide  ; 
W  hy  inould  I  love  the  creature  fo  ?.' 

My  Love  is  crucify* d. 

Shameful  his  death,  oh  let  it  flay 

In  me  ail  curfed  pride  ; 
Lowly  in  Jefas,  may  1  fay, 

My  Love  is  crucify' d*- 

1 2  When: 


98  Memoirs  of  the  late 

When  firft  my  foul,  by  living  faith,. 

My  bleeding  Lord  efpy'd, 
My  lips  declar'd,  at  ev'ry  breath, 

My  Love  is  crucify' d. 

And  fince  my  happy  heart  has  known;. 

His  facred  blood  apply'd, 
This  dill  has  been  my  fweeteft  fongr 

My  Love  is  crucify' d* 

And  whilft  upon  this  world  I  (lay,, 

Whate'er  may  me  betide, 
To  all  around  I'll  ever  fay, 

My  Love  is  crucify' d* 

When  through  death's  gloomy  vale  I  walk* 

My  Lord  fhall  be  my  guide  ; 
To  him  Fit  fing,  of  him  Tit  talk, 

My  Love  is  crucify' d~ 

Could  I,  his  praife  e'en  now  I'd  found* 

As  vail  creation  wide  ; 
But  I  (hall  frng  on  heav'nly  ground,. 

My  Love  is  crucify' cL 

Yes,  when  to  that  bleft  land  I  mount* 

On  plates  high  to  ride, 
Through  all  eternity  I'll  fliout, 

Mv  Love  is  crucify'd! 

Jan.  19,  1795.  S.  P." 


The 


Mr.  Samuel  Peare-e.  99 

«  The  GARDENER  and  -ROSE-TREE." 

"  A  FABLE/' 

w  Affectionately  addreffed  to  Mrs.  J.  H- ,  en  the 

death  of  her  child  y  by  her  truly  fympathizing  friend r, 

S.  P.'* 

March   ia,   1798-- 

"  IN  a  fweet  fpot,  which  Wifdom  chofe^ 
Grew  an  unique  and  lovely  Rofe  ; 
A  flow'r  fo  fair  was  feldom  borne — 
A  Rofe  almoft  without  a  thorn- 
Each  paffing  ftranger  ftopp'd  to  view 
A  plant  pofTefling  charms  fo  new  u 
u  Siveei  Ffoior  !y>  each  Jip  was  heard  to  fay- — 
Nor  lefs  the  Owner  pleas'd  than  they  : 
Rear'd  by  his  hand  with  confront  care,. 
And  planted  in  his  choice  parterre,. 
Of  all  his  garden  this  the  pride, 
No  flow'r  fo  much  admir'd  befide.. 

Nor  did  the  Rofe  unconfeious  bloomy 
Nor  feel  ungrateful  for  the  boon  ; 
Oft  as  her  guar-dian  came  that  way, 
Whether  at  dawn,  or  eve  of  day, 
Expanded  wide — her  form  unvail'd, 
She  double  fragrance  then  exhal'd. 

As  months  rolPd  on,  the  fpring  appear'di.. 
Its  genial  rays  the  Rofe  matur'd  ;. 
Forth  from  its  root  zfhoot  extends — 
The  parent  Rofe»tree  downward  bends,; 
And,  with  a  joy  unknown  before, 
Contemplates  the  yet  embryo  flow'r. 

1  Offspring  mod  dear  (me  fondly  faid,)' 

*  Pan  of  myfelf !    beneath  my  (hade, 

•  Safe  (halt  thou  rife,  whilll  happy  I, 
*Tranfported  with  maternal  joy, 


loo  Memoirs  of  the  late 

<  Shall  fee  thy  little  buds  appear, 
6  Unfold,  and  bloom  in  beauty  here, 
i  What  though  the  Lily,  or  Jonquil, 

*  Or  Hyacinth  no  longer  fill 

c  The  fpace  around  me — All  mall  be 

*  Abundantly  made  up  in  thee. 

*  What  though  my  prefent  charms  decayr 
1  And  puffing  Grangers  no  more  fay 

*  Of  me,  «  Sweet  flow'r  P— Yet  thou  (halt  raife 

*  Thy  blooming  head,  and  gain  the  praife  y 
*And  this  reverberated  pleafure 

*  Shall  be  to  me  a  world,  of  treafure* 
6  Cheerful  I  part  with  former  merit, 
1  That  it  my  darling  may  inherit. 

*  Hafle  then  the  hours  which  bid  thee  bloow* 
4  And  fill  the  zephyrs  with  perfume  tf 

Thus  had  the  R.ofe-tree  fcarcely  fpoken, 
Ere  the  fweet  cup  of  blifs  was  broken  — 
The  Gard'ner  came,  and  with  one  ftroke 
He  from  the  root  the  offspring  took  ; 
Took  from  the  foil  wherein  it  grew, 
And  hid  it  from  the  parent's  yiew. 

Judge  ye,  who  know  a  mother's  cares 
For  the  dear  tender  babe  (he  bears,. 
The  parent's  anguim — ye  alone 
Such  fad  viciilitudes  have  known* 

Deep  was  the  wound  ;  nor  flight  the  pain 
Which  made  the  Rofe-tree  thus  complain  v — 

*  Dear  little  darling  !   art  thou  gone — 

*  Thy  charms  fcarce  to  thy  mother  known  i 

*  Remov'd  fo  foon  ! — So  fuddenly, 

*  Snatch'd  from  niy  fond  maternal  eye  ! 

*  What  hadft  thou  done  ?—  dear  offspring  !   fayy 
'  So  early  to  be  fnatch'd  away  ! 

*  What  !   gone  for  ever  ! — feen  no  more  ! 
f  For  ever  I  thy  lofs  deplore. 

•■  Yc 


Mr.  Samuel  Pea  ret.  101 

cYe  dews  defcend,  with  tears  fupply 
c  My  now  for  ever  tearful  eye  ; 
c  Or  ratheF  come  fome  northern  blajl> 
i  Diflodge  my  yielding  roots  in  hafte. 
c  Whirlwinds  arife — my  branches  tear, 

*  And  to  fome  diftant  region  bear 

*  Far  from  this  fpot,  a  wretched  mother, 

*  Whofe  fruit  and  joys  are  gone  together.' 

As  thus  the  anguifn'd  Rofe-tree  cry'd,., 
Her  Owner  near  her  me  efpy'd  ; 
Who  in  thefe  gentle  terms  reprov'd 
A  plant,  though  murm'ring,  ftill  belov'd  : — 

*  Ceafe,  beauteous  flow'r,  thefe  ufelefs  cries* 
And  let  my  leffons  make  thee  wife. 
Art  thou  not  mine  ?-  Did  not  my  hand 
Tranfplant  thee  from,  the  barren  fand, 
Where  once  a  mean  uniightly  plant, 
Expos'd  to  injury  and  want,. 
Unknown,  and  unadmir'd,  I  found, 
And  brought  thee  to  this  fertile  ground  ;. 
With  ftudioas  art  improv'd  thy  form, 
Secur'd*  thee  from  the  inclement  ftorm, 
And  through  the  feafons  of  the  year, 
Made  thee  my  unabating  care  f 
Haft  thou  not  bleft  thy  happy  lot, 
In  fuch  an  owner — fuch  a  fpot  ? 
But  now,  becaufe  thy  (hoot  I've  taken, 
Thy  beft  of  friends  nauft  be  forfaktn. 
Know,  fLow*r  belov'd,  e'en  this  affliction 
Shall  prove  to  thee  a  benediction  :. 
Had  I  not  the  young  plant  remov'd, 
(So  fondly  by  thy  heart  belov'd) 
Of  me  thy  heart  .would  fcarce  have  thought,, 
With  gratitude  no  more  be  fraught  : 
— Yea — thy  own  beauty  be  at.  irake 
Surrender'd  for  thy  offspring's  fake. 
Nor  think,  that,  hidden  from  thine  eyes, 
The  infant  plant  negkded  lies — 

No— 


io.2  Memoirs  of  the  late 

*  No — I've  another  garden,  where 

*  In  richer  foil  and  purer  air 

4  It's  new  tranfplanted,  there  to  mine 

*  In  beauties  fairer  far  than  thine. 

*  Nor  fhalt  thou  always  be  apart 

*  From  the  dear  darlu.g  of  thy  heart  ; 
4  For  'tis  my  puipofe  thu  to  bear 

*  In  future  timt,  and  plant  thee  there,. 
i  Where  thy  now  abfent  off- let  grows, 

*  And  bloffoms  a  celestial  Rofe. 

1  Be  patient,  then,  till  that  fet  hour  mail  come, 

1  When  thou  and  thine  fhali  in  new  beauties  bloom  v 

*  No  more  its  abfence  (hall  thou  then  deplore, 

*  Together  grow,  and  ne'er  be  parted  mote.' 

Thefe  words  to  filence  hunYd  the  plaintive  Rofe, 
With  deeper  blufhes  redd'ning  now  me  glows, 
Submiilive  bow'd  her  unrepining  head, 
Again  her  wonted,  grateful  fragrance  ihed — 
Cry'd,  «  Thou  baft  taken  only  what's  thine  own, 

*  There/ore  thy  will,  my  Lord,  not  mine,  be  done/ 


Mr.  Samuel  Fearer. 


CHAP.     IV. 

AN    ACCOUNT   OF   HI3    LAST   AFFLICTION,   AND   THE    HOLY 
AND    HAPPY    EXERCILES    OF    HIS    MIND   UNDER.    IT. 

JlLiARLY  in  Oaober,  1798,  Mr.  Pearce  at- 
tended at  the  Kettering  nainifters'  meeting,  and  preach- 
ed from  Pfalm  xc.  16,  17.     Let  thy  werl  appear  uiuo 
tky  fervaiitS)  and  thy  glory  unto  their  children.      Ar.d  lei 
the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  he  upon  us  :  and  ejlahi'ijh 
thou  the  ivork  of  our  hands  upon  us  ;  yea,  the  zuork  of  our 
hands  eftabli/b  thou  it.      He  was  obfevved  to  be  Angu- 
larly foiemn  and  affectionate  in  that  difcourfe.     If  he 
had  known   it  to   be  the  laft  time  that   he  fhould  ad- 
drefs  his  brethren  in  that  part  of  the  country,  he  could 
fcarcely  have  felt  or  fpoken  in  a  more  intertfting  man- 
ner.    It  was  a  difcourfe  full  of  inftruclion,  full  of  a 
holy  unction,  and  that  feemed  to  breathe  an  apoftoli- 
cal  ardour.     On  his   return,  he  preached  at   Market 
Harborough  •,   and  riding  home  the  next  day  in  com- 
pany with  his  friend,  Mr.  Summers,  of  London*  they 
were    overtaken    with    rain.     Mr.    Pearce    was    wet 
through  bis  clothes,  and  towards  evening  complained 
of  a  chillnefs.      A   flight   hoarfenefs    followed.     He 
preached  feveral  times  after  this',  which  brought  on 
an  inflammation,  and  iflued  in  a  coniumpt'en.     It  is 
probable  that   if  his   constitution   had  not  been  previ- 
oufiv  impaired,  fuch  effects  might  not  have  followed 
in  this  irdtance.     His  own  ideas  on  this  fubjetr,  are 
expreiTed  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Ryland,  dated  December 
4,    17983   and  in   another  to   Mr.  King,  dated  from 
Briftol,  on  his  way  to  Plymouth,  March  30,   1799. 
In  the  former,  he  fays, — "  Ever  fince  my  Chriftmas 
journey  laft  year  to  Sheepuhead,  Nottingham,  and  Lei- 
cefter,  on  the  miflion  buGnefs,I  have  .oundmy  consti- 
tution greatly  debilitated,  in  confequencc  of  a  cold 

caught 


io4  Memoirs  of  the  late 

caught  after  the  unufual  exertions  which  circum- 
ftances  then  demanded  ;  fo  that  from  a  frame  that 
could  endure  any  weather,  I  have  fince  been  too  ten- 
der to  encounter  a  Tingle  fhower  without  danger  \  and 
the  duties  of  the  Lord's  day,  which,  as  far  as  bodily 
ftrength  went,  I  could  perform  with  little  fatigue, 
have  iince  frequently  overcome  me.  But  the  fevere 
cold  I  caught  in  my  return  from  the  laft  Kettering 
minifters'  meeting,  has  afftcled  me  fo  much  that  I 
have  fometimes  concluded  I  mud  give  -up  preaching 
entirely  \  for  though  my  head  and  fpirits  are  better 
than  for  two  years  pail,  yet  my  ftomach  is  fo  very 
weak  that  I  cannot  pray  in  my  family  without  fre- 
quent paufes  for  breath,  and  in  the  pulpit  it  is  labour 
and  agony,  which  mult  be  felt  to  be  conceived  of.  I 
have,  however,  made  ihift  to  preach  fometimes  thrice, 
but  moftly  only  twice  on  a  Lord'^  day,  till  the  lad, 
when  the  morning  fermon  only,  though  I  delivered  it 
with  great  pleafure  of  mind,  and  with  as  much  cau- 
tion as  to  my  voice  as  poffible,  yet  coft  me  fo  much 
labour  as  threw  me  into  a  fever  till  the  next  day,  and 

prevented  my  fleeping  all  night." In  the  letter, 

he  thus  writes "  Should  my  life  be  fpared,  I,  and 

my  family,  and  ail  my  connexions  will  (land  indebt- 
ed, under  God,  to  you-.  Unfuipefting  of  danger  my- 
felf,  I  believe  I  ihould  have  gone  on  with  my  exer- 
tions, till  the  grave  had  received  me.      Your  attention 

font  Mr.  B (the  apothecary)  to  me,  and  then  firft 

I  learned  what  I  have  iince  been  increasingly  convinc- 
ed of — that  I  was  rapidly  deflroyirrg  the  vital  principle. 
And  the  kind  intereil  you  have  taken  in  my  welfare 
ever  fince,  has  often  drawn  the  grateful  tear  from  my 
eye.  May  the  Cod  of  heaven  and  earth  reward  your 
kindnefs  to  his  unworthy  fervant,  and  fave  you  from 
all  the  evils  from  which  your  diftinguiihed  friendfliip 
would  have  laved  me  !7' 

Such  were  his  ideas.     His  labours  were  certainly 
abundant  ;    perhaps  too  great   for  his  conflitution  : 

but 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  105 

but  it  is  probable  that  nothing  was  more  injurious  to 
his  health,  than  a  frequent  expofure  to  night  air,  and 
an  inattention  to  the  neceffity  of  changing  damp 
clothes. 

Hitherto  we  have  feen  in  Mr.  Pearce,  the  a&ive, 
afliduous,  and  laborious  fervant  of  Jefus  Chrift  :  but 
now  we  fee  him  laid  afide  from  his  work,  wafting 
away  by  flow  degrees,  patiently  enduring  the  will  of 
God,  and  cheerfully  waiting  for  his  diflblution.  And 
as  here  is  but  little  to  narrate,  I  fhall  content  myfelf 
with  copying  his  letters,  or  extracts  from  them,  to 
his  friends,  in  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  were 
written,  only  now  and  then  dropping  a  few  hints  to 
furnifh  the  reader  with  the  occafions  of  fome  of  them. 

To  Dr.   RYLAND. 

"  Blrnt'ngham^  03ohet 8,  1 79$. 

*  OH  !  my  dear  brother,  your  letter  of  the 
5th,  which  I  received  this  morning,  has  made  mc 
thankful  for  all  my  pulpit  agonies,  as  they  enable  me  to 
weep  with  a  weeping  brother.  They  have  been  of 
ufe  to  me  in  other  refpedts  ;  particularly,  in  teaching 
me  the  importance  of  attaining  and  maintaining  that 
fpirituality  and  pious  ardour,  in  which  I  have  found 
the  mod  effectual  relief;  fo  that  on  the  whole  I  muft 
try  to  «  glory  in  tribulations  alfo.'  I  truft  I  often  can 
when  the  conflift  is  pad,  but  to  glory  c  in 9  them, 
cfpecially  in  mental  diftrefs — hie  labor,  hoc  opus  eft. 

"  But  how  often  has  it  been  found,  that-when  min- 
iilers  have  felt  themfelves  mod  embarrafled,  the  moll 
effectual  good  has  been  done  to  the  people.  Oh  for 
hearts  entirely  refigned  to  the  will  of  God  t 

K  u  How 


ic6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  How  happy  fhould  I  be,  could  I  always  enjoy 
the  fympathies  of  a  brother,  who  fs  tried  in  thefe 
points,  as  I  of  late  have  been. 

S.  P." 


To   Mr.   FULLER. 

"  Birmingham,  Oflober  %<),  1 798. 

«  I  CAUGHT  a  violent  cold  in  returning 
from  our  lad  Committee-meeting,  from  which  I  have 
not  yet  recovered.  A  little  thing  now  affecls  my  con- 
ftitution,  which  I  once  judged  would  be  weather  and 
labour  proof  for  at  lead  thirty  years,  if  I  lived  fo  long. 
I  thank  God  that  I  am  not  debilitated  by  iniquity.  I 
have  lately  met  with  an  occurrence,  which  cccafioned 
me  muqh  pain  and  perplexity.  ******  Trials 
foften  our  hearts,  and  make  us  more  fully  prize  the 
dear  few,  into  whofe  faithful  fympathizing  boibms  we 
can  with  confidence  pour  our  forrows.  I  think  I 
fhould  blefs  God  for  my  afflictions,  if  they  produced 
no  other  fruits  than  thefe, — the  tendernefs  they  in- 
fpire,  and  the  friendihips  they  enjoy.  Pray,  my  dear 
brother,  for  yours  affectionately, 

S.  P." 

••<►•  <^<€£$$°<*&  •<►  - 

To  a  young  man  who  had  applied  to  him  for  ad- 
vice, how  he  fhould  beft  improve  his  time,  previous 
to  his  going  to  the  Briftol  Academy  > — 

"  Birmingham t  Nrvdmhr  13,  179^ 

"  My  &&r  M— -^1 

*  I  CAN  only  confefs  my  regret  at  not  reply- 
ing to  yours  at  a  much  earlier  period,  and  affure  you 
that  the  delay  has  been  accidental,  and  not  defigned. 
I  feel  the  importance  of  your  requeft  for  advice.     I 

was 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  107 

was  fenfible  it  deferved  fome  confideration  before  it 
was  anfwered.  I  was  full  of  bufinefs  at  the  moment. 
1  put  it  by,  and  it  was  forgotten  ;  and  now  it  is  too 
late.  The  time  of  your  going  to  Briftol  draws  nigh. 
If,  inftead  of  an  opinion  refpe£Hng  the  beft  way  of 
occupying  your  time  before  you  go,  you  will  accept  a 
little  counfel  during  your  continuance  there,  I  (hall 
be  happy  at  any  time  to  contribute  fuch  a  mite  as  my 
experience  and  obfervation  have  put  in  my  power. 

"  At  prefent,  the  following  rules  appear  of  fo  much 
moment,  that  were  I  to  refume  a  place  in  any  litera- 
ry eftablifhrnent,  I  would  religioufly  adopt  them  as 
the  ftandard  of  my  conduct  : — Firft,  I  would  cultivate 
a  fpirlt  of  habitual  devotion.  Warm  piety  connected 
with  my  ftudies,  and  efpecially  at  my  entrance  upon 
them,  would  not  only  affift  me  in  forming  a  judgment 
on  their  refpe£tive  importance,  and  fecure  the  bl 
ing  of  God  upon  them  ;  but  would  fo  cement  the  re- 
ligious feeling  with  the  literary  purfuit,  as  might  abide 
with  me  for  life.  The  habit  of  uniting  thefe,  being 
once  formed,  would,  I  hope,  be  never  loft  \  and  I  am 
fure  that,  without  this,  I  mall  both  purfue  trivial  and 
unworthy  objects,  and  thofe  that  are  worthy  I  fhall 
purfue  for  a  wrong  end. — Secondly,  I  would  deter- 
mine on  a  uniform  fubmifiion  to  the  inftru&ions  of 
my  preceptor,  and  ftudy  thofe  things  which  would 
give  him  pleafure.  If  he  be  not  wifer  than  I  am,  for 
what  purpofe  do  I  come  under  his  care  ?  I  accepted 
the  pecuniary  help  of  th^  SeettTty  on  condition  of  CG!> 
forming  to  its  w:!i  ;  and  it  is  the  Society's  will  thai 
my  tutor  ihould  govern  me.  My  example  will  have 
influence  ;  let  me  not,  by  a  fingle  ad  of  difobedience, 
c?  by  a  word  that  implicates  cluTatisfa&ion,  fow  the 
feeds  of  difcord  in  the  bofom  of  my  companions. — 
Thirdly,   I  would  pray   and  flrive  for  the  power  of 

-governments  to  form  no  plan,  to  utter  not  a  word, 
to  take  no  ftep  under  the  mere  influence  of  paffion. 

Let 


io8  Memoirs  of  the  late 

Let  my  judgment  be  often  afked,  and  let  me  always 
give  it  time  to  anfwer.  Let  me  always  guard  againit 
a  light  or  trifling  fpirit  ;  and  particularly  as  I  mall  be 
amongft  a  number  of  youths>  whofe  years  will  incline 
them  all  to  the  fame  frailty. — Fourthly,  I  would  in  all 
my  weekly  and  daily  puriuits  obferve  the  ftricfteft  or- 
der. Always  let  me  aft  by  a  plan.  Let  every  hour 
have  its  proper  purfuit ;  from  which  let  nothing,  but  a 
fettled  conviction  that  I  can  employ  it  to  better  ad- 
vantage, ever  caule  me  to  deviate.  Let  me  have  fix- 
ed time  for  prayer,  meditation,  reading,  languages* 
corr.efpondenc?,  recreation,  fleep,  &c. — Fifthly,  I 
would  not  only  aflign  to  every  hour  its  proper  pur- 
fuit ;  but  what  I  did,  I  would  try  to  do  it  with  all  my 
might.  The  hours  at  fuch  a  place  are  precious  be- 
yond conception,  till  the  ftudent  enters  on  life's  bufy 
fcenes.  Let  me  fet  the  beft  of  my  clafs  ever  before 
me,  and  drive  to  be  better  than  they.  In  humility 
and  diligence,  let  me  aim  to  be  the  firfl. — Sixthly,  I 
would  particularly  avoid  a  verfatile  habit.  In  all  things 
I  would  perfevere.  Without  this,  I  may  be  a  gaudy 
butterfly,  but  never,  like  the  bee,  will  my  hive  bear 
examining.  Whatever  I  take  in  hand,  let  me  flrft  be 
fure  I  underftand  it,  then  duly  confidtr  it,  and  if  it  be 
good,  let  me  adopt  and  ufe  it. 

"  To  thefe,  my  dear  brother,  let  me  add  three  or 
four  things  more  minute,  but  which  I  am  perfuaded 
will  help  you  much. — Guard  againjl  a  large  acquaint- 
ance while  you  are  aJhtdsnL  Briftol  friendfhip,  while 
you  fuftain  that  character,  will  prove. a  vile  thief,  and 
rob  you  of  many  an  invaluable  hour. — Get  two  or  three 
of the  jiudentSy  whofe  piety  you  mo/I  approve,  to  meet  for 
one  hour  in  a  week  for  experimental  converfatiotiy  and  mi^ 
tual  prayer.  I  found  this  highly  beneficial,  though, 
ft  range  to  tell,  by  fome  we  were  perfecuted  for  our 
practice  ! — Keep  a  diary.  Once  a  week,  at  fartheft, 
call  yourfelf  to  an  account  ;  What  advances  you  have 

made 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  109 

made  in  your  different  ftudies  j  in  divinity,  hiftoryi 
languages,  natural  philofophy,  ftyle,  arrangement  \ 
and  amidft  all,  do  no  not  forget  to  inquire,  Am  I  more 
fit  to  ferve  and  to  enjoy  God  than  I  was  laft  week  ? 

S.  P." 

On  December  2,  1798,  he  delivered  his  laft  fer- 
mon.  The  fubjett  was  taken  from  Dan.  x.  19.  Oh 
man,  greatly  beloved,  fear  net,  peace  be  unto  thee,  bejirongi 
yea,  bejlrong.  A  fid  when  he  had  fpohen  unto  me}  I  ivas 
jirengthened,  and  J aid,  Let  my  Lord  /peak  ;  for  thou  hajt 

Jirengthened  me. "  Amongft  all  the  Old  Teitament 

faints,"  faid  he,  in  his  introduction  to  that  difcourfe, 
<c  there  is  not  one  whofe  virtue?  were  more,  and 
whofe  imperfeciions  were  fewer,  than  thofe  of  Daniel. 
By  the  hiltory  given  of  him  in  this  book,  which  yet 
feems  not  to  be  complete,  he  appears  to  have  excelled 
among  the  excellent."  Douhtiefs,  no  one  was  farther 
from  his  thoughts  than  hiq&felf  :  feveral  of  his  friends, 
however,  could  not  help  applying  it  to  him,  and  that 
with  a  painful  apprehenfion  of  what  followed  foon 
after. 

To   Mr.   CAVE,  Leicefter. 

"  Birmingham,  X>tfeml,er  4,  1 798. 

« BLESSED  be  God,  my  mind  is 

calm  ;  and  though  my  body  be  weaknefs  itfelf,  my 
fpirits  are  good,  and  I  can  write  as  well  as  ever, 
though  I  can  hardly  fpeak  two  fentences  without  a 
paufe.  All  is  well,  brother  !  all  is  well,  for  time 
and  eternity.  My  foul  rejoices  in  the  everlafting  cov- 
enant, ordered  in  all  things  and  lure.     Peace  from 

our 
K2 


no  Memoirs  of  the  «  late 

our  dear  Lord  Jefus  be  with  your  fphrit,  as  it  is  (yea, 
more  alfo)  with  your  affectionate  brother, 

S.  P." 


December  9,  1798,  he  was  detained  from  public 
worlhip,  and  wrote  to  Dr.  Ryland  the  firft  of  the  let- 
ters which  appear  at  the  clofe  of  his  funeral  fermon. — 
The  following  lines  feem  to  have  been  compofed  on 
the  fame  occafion  : — 

i€  On    being  prevented   by  fichnefs  from    attending   on 
public  luotjhip* 

"  THE  fabric  of  nature  is  fair, 
But  fairer  the  temple  of  grace  ; 
To  faints  'tis  the  joy  of  the  earth— 
Oh  glorious,  beautiful  place  ! 

To  this  temple  I  once  did  refort, 
With  crouds  of  the  people  of  God  j 
Enraptur'd,  we  enter'd  its  courts, 
And  hail'd  the  Redeemer's  abode. 

The  Father  of  nature  we  prais'd, 
And  proftrated  low  at  his  throne  ; 
The  Saviour  we  lov'd  and  ador'd, 
Who  iov'd  us  and  made  us  his  own. 

Full  off  to  the  meffage  of  peace, 
To  finners  addrefs'd  from  the  fky, 
We  lifren'd,  extolling  that  grace, 
Which  fet  us,  once  rebels,  on  high* 

Faith  clare  to  the  crucify'd  Lamb ; 
Hope,  fmiling,  exalted  its  head  ; 
Love  warm'd  at  the  Saviour's  dear  name, 
And  yow'd  to  obferye  what  he  foid* 

What 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  in 

What  pleafure  appear'd  in  the  looks 
Of  brethren  and  lifters  around  ; 
With  tranfport  all  feem'd  to  reflect 
On  the  blefiings  in  Jefus  they'd  found. 

Sweet  .moments  !   If  aught  upon  earth 
Referable  the  joys  of  the  lilies, 
9  Tis  thus  when  the  heart3  of  the  ilock 
Conjoin'd  to  the  Shepherd  arife. 

But  ah  !   thefe  fweet  moments  are  fled, 
Pale  ficknefs  compels  me  to  flay 
Where  no  voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard, 
As  the  moments  are  hafting  away. 

My  God  !   thou  art  holy  and  good, 
Thy  plans  are  all  righteous  and  wife  ; 
Oh  help  me  fubmiflive  to  wait, 
Till  thou-biddeit  thy  fervant  arife. 

If  to  follow  thee  here  in  thy  courts, 
May  it  be  with  all  ardour  and  zeal, 
With  fuccefs  and  increafing  delight 
Performing  the  whole  of  thy  will. 

Or  fhouldft  thou  in  bondage  detain, 
To  vifit  thy  temples  no  more, 
Prepare  me  for  manfions  above, 
Where  nothing  exifts  to  deplore  ! 

Where  Jefus,  the  Sun  of  the  place, 
Refulgent  inceffantly  mines, 
Eternally  bleffing  his  faints, 
And  pouring  delight  on  their  minds, 

There — there  are  no  prifons  to  hold 
The  captive  from  tailing  delight ; 
There — there  the  day  never  is  clos'd 
With  fhadows,  or  darknefs,  or  night. 

There 


1 1  z  Memoirs  cf  the  late 

There  myriads  and  myriads  (hall  meet, 
In  our  Saviour's  high  praifes  to  join  ; 
Whiift  tranfported  we  fall  at  his  feet, 
And  extol  his  redemption  divine. 

Enough  then  !   my  heart  fhall  no  more 
Of  its  preient  bereavements  complain  ; 
Since,  ere  long,  I  to  glory  fhall  foar, 
And  ceafelcfs  enjoyments  attain  !  " 


To  Mr.  NICHOLS,  Nottingham. 

"  Birmingham,  Dec.  10,179?. 

"  I  AM  now  quite  laid  by  from  preaching, 
and  am  fo  reduced  in  my  internal  ftrength,  that  I  can 
hardly  converfe  with  a  friend  for  five  minutes  without 
lofing  my  breath.  Indeed  I  have  been  fo  ill,  that  I 
thought  the  next  afcent  would  be,  not  to  a  pulpit,  but 
to  a  throne — to  the  throne  of  glory.  Yes  indeed,  my 
friend,  the  religion  of  Jefus  will  fupport  when  flefh 
and  heart  fail  *,  and  in  my  worft  date  of  body,  my  foul 
was  filled  with  joy.  I  am  now  getting  a  little  better, 
though  but  very  flowly.  But  faft  or  flow,  or  as  it  may, 
the  Lord  doth  all  things  well. 

S.  P." 

To   R.   BOWYER,  Efq. 

a 1  HAVE  overdone  myfelf  in  preach- 
ing. I  am  now  ordered  to  lie  by,  and  not  even  to 
converfe y  without  great  care  ;  nor  indeed,  till  to-day, 
have  I  for  fome  time  been  able  to  utter  a  fentence, 
without  a  painful  effort.  Blefled  be  God  !  I  have 
been  filled  ail  through  my  affliction  with  peace  and 

joy 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  1 1 3 

joy  in  believing  ;  and  at  one  time,  when  I  thought  I 
was  entering  the  valley  of  death,  the  profpect  beyond 
was  fo  full  of  glory,  that  but  for  the  forrow  it  would 
have  occafioned  to  fonie  who  would  be  left  behind,  I 
ihould  have  longed  that  moment  to  have  mounted  to 
the  ikies.  Oh,  my  friend,  what  a  mercy  that  I  am 
not  receiving  the  wages  of  fin  ;  that  my  health  has 
not  been  impaired  by  vice  *,  but  that,  on  the  contrary, 
I  am  bearing  in  my  body  the  marks  of  the  Lord  Jefus, 
To  him  be  all  the  praife  !  Truly  I  have  proved  that 
God  is  faithful  :  and  mod  cheerfully  would  I  take 
double  the  affliction  for  one  half  of  the  joy  and  fweet- 
nefs  which  have  attended  it.  "Accept  a  fcimon  which 
is  this  day  publifhed.* 

S.  F." 


To  Mr.  BATES  and  Mrs.  BARNES,  Minories. 

"  Birmingham,  Dec.  14,  1 798. 

" 1  COULD  tell  you  much  of  the  Lord's 

goodnefs  during  my  affliction.  Truly  «  his  right  hand 
hath  been  under  my  head,  and  his  left  embraced  me/ 
And  when  I  was  at  the  wcrft,  efpecially,  and  expect- 
ed ere  long  to  have  done  with  time,  even  then}  fuch 
holy  joy,  fuch  ineffable  fweetnefs  filled  my  foul,  that 
I  would  not  have  exchanged  that  fituation  for  any  be- 
fides  heaven  itfelf. 


M  Oh,  my  dear  friends,  let  us  live  to  Chrijl^  and 
lay  ourfelves  wholly  out  for  him  whilft  we  live ;  and 
then,  when  health  and  life  forfake  us,  he  will  be  the 
flrength  of  our  heart,  and  our  portion  forever. 

S.  P." 
About 

*  The  lafc  but  cne  he  ever  preached,  entitled,  Motives  to 
Gratitude.     Ii  red  en  the  dry  of  national  thankfgiving, 

and  printed  at  the  regueft  of  his  own  congregation. 


H4  Memoirs  cf  the  late 

About  this  time,  the  congregation  at  Cannon-ftreet 
was  fupplied  for  feveral  months  by  Mr.  Ward,  who 
is  iince  gone  as  a  miffionary  to  India :  here  that  ami- 
able young  man  became  intimately  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Pearce,  and  conceived  a  mod  affect. ionate  efteem 
for  him.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  Jan.  5,  1799, 
he  writes  as  follows : 

"  I  AM  happy  in  the  company  of  dear  brother 
Pearce.  I  have  kti\  more  of  God  in  him,  than  in 
any  other  perfon  1  ever  knew.  Oh  how  happy  fhould 
I  be  to  live  and  die  with  him  I  When  well,  he  preach- 
es three  times  on  a  Lord's  day,  and  two  or  three  times 
in  the  week  befides.  He  inftrudts  the  young  people 
in  the  principles  of  religion,  natural  philofophy,  af- 
tronomy,  &c.  They  have  a  Benevolent  Society,, 
from  the  funds  of  which  they  diftribute  forty  or  fifty 
pounds  a  year  to  the  poor  of  the  congregation. 
They  have  a  Sick  Society  for  vifiting  the  afflicted  in 
general  :  a  Book  Society  at  chapel  :  a  LordVday 
School,  at  which  betwixt  two  and  three  hundred  chil- 
dren are  inftrucled.  Add  to  this,  miffionary  bufinefs, 
vifiting  the  people,  an  extennve  correfpondence,  two 
volumes  of  million  hiftory  preparing  for  the  prefs,  &c. ; 
and  then  you  will  fee  fomething  of  the  foul  of  Pearce. 
He  is  every  where  venerated,  though  but  a  young 
man  •,  and  all  the  kind,  tender,  gentle  affeclions, 
make  him  as  a  little  child  at  the  feet  of  his  Saviour. 

W.  W." 

In  February,  he  rode  to  the  opening  of  a  Baptift 
meeting-houfe  at  Bedworth  ;  but  did  net  engage  in 
any  of  the  fervices.  Here  feveral  of  his  brethren  faw 
him  for  the  laft  time.  Soon  afterwards,  writing  to 
the  compiler  of  thefe  memoirs,  he  fays, — u  The 
Lord's  day  after  I  came  home,  I  tried  to  fpeak  a  little 

after 


Mr*  Samuel  Pearce.  i 1 5 

after  fermon.  It  inflamed  my  lungs  afrefh,  produced 
phlegm,  coughing,  and  fpitting  of  blood.  Perhaps  I 
may  never  preach  more.  Well,  the  Lord's  will  be 
Hone.  I  thank  him  that  ever  he  took  me  into  his 
fervice  ;  and  now,  if  he  fee  fit  to  give  me  a  difcharge, 
I  fubmit." 

During  the  above  meetings  a  word  was  dropped  by 
one  of  his  brethren  which  he  took  as  a  reflection, 
though  nothing  was  farther  from  the  intention  of  the 
fpeaker.  It  wrought  upon  his  mind,  and  in  a  few 
days  after,  he  wrcte  as  follows  : *"  Do  you  re- 
member what  pafTed  at  B ?  Had  I  not  been  ac- 

cuftomed  to  receive  plain,  friendly-  remarks  from  you, 
I  mould  have  thought  that  you  meant  to  infinuate  a 
reproof.  If  you  did,  tell  me  plainly.  If  you  did  not, 
it  ftr  all  at  an  end.  You  will  not  take  my  naming  it 
unkind,  although  I  mould  be  miflaken,  fince  affec- 
tionate explanations  are  neceflary  when  fufpicions 
arife,  to  the  prefervation  of  friendfhip  ;  and  I  need 
not  fay  that  I  hold  the  prefervation  of  your  friendfliip 
in  no  fmall  acccount." 

The  above  is  copied,  not  only  to  fet  forth  the  fpirit 
and  conducl.  of  Mr.  Pearce  in  a  cafe  wherein  he  felt 
himfeif  aggrieved,  but  to  (hew  in  how  eafy  and  amia- 
ble a  manner  thoulan ds  of  miftakes  might  be  rectified, 
and  differences  prevented,  by  a  frank  and  tim-ely  ex- 
planation. 

To   Mr.    COMFIELD,    Northampton 

"  Birmrrgham,  March  4,  1 799 

Xi  I  COULD  wim  my  fympathies  to  be  as  exten- 
five  as  human — I  was  going  to  fay — (and  why  not  ?)  as 
animal  mifery.    The  very  limited  comprehension  of  the 

human 


lib  Memoirs  of  the  late 

human  intelligence  forbids"  this  indeed,  and  whilft  I 
am  attempting  to  participate  as  far  as  the  news  of 
affliction  reaches  me,  I  find  the  fame  events  do  not 
often  produce  equal  feelings.  v-'e  meafure  our  fym- 
pathies,  not  by  the  caufes  of  foTirdw,  but  by  the  fenfi- 
biiities  of  the  forrowful ;  hence  I  abound  in  feeling  on 
your  account.     The  fituation  of  lily  mull  have 

given  diftrefs  to  a  prefident  of  any  character  ;  but  in 
you  it  mull:  have  produced  agonies.  I  know  the  ten- 
dernefs  of  your  heart  :  your  feelings  are  delicately 
ftrong.  You  mull  feel  much,  or  nothing  ;  and  he 
that  knows  you,  and  does  not  feel  much  when  you 
feel,  muft  be  a  brute. 

"  May  the  fountain  of  mercy  fupply  you  with 
the  cheering  ft  ream  i  May  your  forrow  be  turned 
into  joy  ! 

u  I  am  fure  that  I  ought  to  value  more  than  ever 
your  friend fliip  for  me.  You  have  remembered  me, 
not  merely  in  my  affliction,  but  in  your  own.  Our 
friendfhip,  our  benevolence  muft  never  be  compared 
with  that  of  Jefus ;  but  it  is  truly  delightful  to  fee  the 
difciple  treading,  though  at  a  humble  diftance,  in  the 
footfteps  of  a  Mafter,  who,  amidft  the  tortures  of  cru- 
cifixion, exercifed  forgivenefs  to  his  murderers,  and 
the  tendernefs  of  filial  piety  to  a  difconfolate  mother  ! 
When  we  realize  the  fcene,  How  much  do  our  imagi- 
nations embrace — the  perfons — the  circumftances — 
the  words — 'Woman,  behold  thy  Son  j  John,  behold 
thy  mother  1  p 

S.  P." 

By  the  above  letter,  the  reader  will  perceive,  that 
while  deeply  afflicted  himfelf,  he  felt  in  the  tendereit 
manner  for  the  afflictions  of  others. 


To 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  1 1 7 

To  Mr.  FULLER. 

March  2  J,  I  79?. 

HE  was  now  fetting  out  for  Plymouth ;  and 
ufter  obferving  the  great  danger  he  was  fuppofed  to 
be  in,  with  refpeft  to  a  confumption,  he  adds, — 
"  But  thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  my  heart  the 
victory,  let  my  poor  body  be  confumed,  or  preferved. 
In  the  thought  of  leavings  I  feel  a  momentary  gloom  •, 
but  in  the  thought  of  goings  a  heavenly  triumph. 

*  Oh  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor  f  * 

"Praife  God  with  me,  and  for  me,  my  dear  broth- 
er, and  let  us  not  mind  dying  any  more  than  fleeping. 
No,  no  *,  let  every  Chriftian  fing  the  loudeft,  as  he  gets 
the  neareft  to  the  prefence  of  his  God. — -Eternally 
yours  in  Him,  who  hath  wafhed  us  both  in  his  blood. 

S.  P." 

To   Mr.  MEDLEY,  London. 

UNDER  the  fame  date,  he  fays,—"  My  af- 
fliction has  been  rendered  fweet,  by  the  fupports  and 
fmiles  of  Him  whom  I  have  ferved  in  the  gofpel  of 
his  Son.  He  hath  delivered,  he  doth  deliver,  and 
I  truft  that  he  will  yet  deliver.  Living  or  dying, 
all  is  well  for  ever.  Oh  what  fhall  I  render  to  the 
Lord  !  * 

•4%^  %%■$$>■ 

It  feems,  that  in  order  to  avoid  "bounding  Mrs.  P/s 
feelings,  he  deferred  the  fettlement  of  his  affairs  till  he 
arrived  at  Briftol ;  from  whence  he  wrote  to  his  friend, 
Mr.  King,  requefting  him  to  become  an  executor. 
Receiving  a  favourable  anfwer,  he  replied  as  follows  :— 

L  *  JBrifiol, 


1 1 8  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  BrtpU  April  6,  1799. 

cc  YOUR  letter,  juft  received,  affected  me  too 
much,  with  feelings  both  of  fympathy  and  gratitude, 
to  remain  unanfwered  a  fingle  poft.  Mod  heartily  do 
I  thank  you  for  accepting  a  fervice,  which  friendfhip 
alone  can  render  agreeable  in  the  moft  fimple  cafes. 
Should  that  fervice  demand  your  activities  at  an  early 
period,  may  no  unforefeen  occurrence  increafe  the  nec- 
eflary  care  !  But  may  the  Father  of  the  fatherlefs,  and 
Judge  of  the  widows,  fend  you  a  recompenfe  into  your 
own  bofom,  equal  to  all  that  friendfhip,  to  which,  under 
God,  I  have  been  fo  much  indebted  in  life,  and  repo- 
ling  on  whofe  bofom,  even  death  itfelf  lofes  part  of  its 
gloom.  In  you,  my  children  will  find  another  father 
— in  you,  my  wife  another  hufband*  Your  tendernefs 
will  fympathize  with  the  one,  under  the  moft  diftreff- 
ing  fenfibilities ;  and  your  prudent  counfels  be  a  guide 
+0  the  others,  through  the  unknown  mazes  of  inexpe- 
rienced youth.      Enough blefled  God  !    My  foul 

proftrates,  and  adores  thee  for  fuch  a  friend* 

s.  iv 

To  Mr.  FULLER. 

u  Plymouth,  April  1 8,  I799* 

"  THE  lafi  time  that  I  wrote  to  you  was  at 
the  clofe  of  a  letter  fent.to  you  by  brother  Ryland* 
I  did  not  like  that  poftfeript  form  ;  it  looked  fo  card* 
like  as  to  make  me  fear  that  you  would  deem  it  un- 
brotherly.  After  all,  perhaps  you  thought  nothing 
about  it ;  and  my  anxieties  might  arife  only  from  my 
weaknefs,  which  feems  to  be  conftantly  increafing  my 
fenfibilities*  If  ever  I  felt  love  in  its  tendernefs  for 
my  friends,  it  has  been  fince  my  aifli£tion.  This,  in 
great  meafure,  is  no  more  than  the  love  of  *  publicans 
and  harlots,  who  love  thofe  that  love  them.'  I  never 
conceived  myfelf  by  a  hundred  degtees  fo  interefled 

in 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  i 1 9 

in  the  regards  of  my  friends,  as  this  feafon  cf  afflic- 
tion has  manifefted  I  was  •,  and  therefore,  fo  far  from 
claiming  any  i  reward'  for  loving  them  in  return,  I 
fhould  account  myfclf  a  moniter  of  ingratitude,  were 
it-otherwife.  Yet  there  is  fome thing  in  affliction  it- 
felf,  which,  by  increafmg  the  delicacy  of  our  feelings, 
and  detaching  our  thoughts  from  the  ufual  round  of 
objects  which  pre  lent  themfelves  to  the  mind  when 
in  a  (late  of  health,  may  be  eafily  conceived  to  make 
us  fufceptible  of  ftronger,  and  more  permanent  im-- 
prcffions  of  an  affectionate  nature, 

"  I  heard  at  Briftol,  that  you  and  your  friends  had  re- 
membered me  in  your  prayers,  at  Kettering,  Wheth- 
er the  Lord  whom  we  ferve  may  fee  fit  to  anfwer 
your  petitions  on  my  account,  or  not,  may  they  at 
leait  be  returned  into  your  own  bofoms-! 

«  For  the  fake  of  others,  I  fhould  be  happy,  could 
I  allure  you  that  my  health  was  improving.  As  to 
myfelf,  I  thank  God,  that  I  am  not  without  a  defire 
to  depart,  and  to  be  with  Chriit,  which  is  far  better. 
I  find  that  neither  in  ficknefs  nor  in  health,  I  can  be 
fo  much  as  I  wifh  like  Him  whom  I  love.  cTo  die  is 
gain  : '  Oh  to  gain  that  ftate,  thole  feelings,  that  char- 
acter, which  perfe6lly  accord  with  the  mind  of  Chriit, 
and  are  attended  with  the  full  perfuafion  of  his  com- 
plete and  everlafting  approbation  !  I  want  no  heaven 
but  this  $  and  to  gain  this,  moft  gladly  would  I  this 
moment  expire.  But  if  to  abide  in  the  flefh  be  more 
needful  for  an  individual  of  my  fellow-men, — Lord, 
let  thy  will  be  done  ;  only  let  Chrift  be  magnified  by 
me,  whether  in  life  or  death  ! 

"  The  weather  has  been  fo  wet  and  windy  fince  1' 
have  been  at  Plymouth,  that  I  could  not  reafonably ' 
expert  to  be  much  better  •,  and  I  cannot  fay  that  I  am 
much  worfe.     All  the  future  is  uncertain.     Profef- 

fional 


1 2  o  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fional  men  encourage  me  ;  but  frequent  returns  ap- 
pear, and  occafional  difcharges  of  blood  check  my 
expectations.  If  I  fpeak  but  for  two  minutes',  my 
bread  feels  as  fore  as  though  it  were  fcraped  with  a 
rough-edged  razor  ;  fo  that  I  am  mute  all  the  day 
long,  and  have  actually  reamed  to  converfe  with  my 
filter  by  means  of  our  fingers. 

44 1  thank  you  for  yours  of  April  4th,  which  I  did 
not  receive  till  the  12th,  the  day  that  I  arrived  at 
Plymouth.  On  the  16th,  a  copy  of  yours  to  brother 
Ryland  came  to  hand,  to  which  I  fhould  have  replied 
yefterday,  but  had  not  leifure.  I  am  happy  and  thank- 
ful for  your  fuccefs..  May  the  Lord  himfelf  pilot  the 
Criterion  fafely  to  Calcutta  river  ! 

"Unlefs  the  Lord  work  a  miracle  for  me,  I  am  fure 
that  I  (hall  not  be  able  to  attend  the  Olney  meeting. 
It  is  to  my  feelings  a  fevere  anticipation  *,  but  how 
can  I  be  a  Chriftian,  and  not  fubmit  to  God  ? 

S.  P." 

To  Mr.  Wm.  WARD. 

."  Plymouth,  April  22,  I  799. 

44  MOST  affectionately  do  I  thank  you  for 
your  letter,  fo  full  of  information,  and  of  friendthip. 
To  our  common  Friend,  who  is  gone  into  heaven, 
where  he  ever  fitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  for  us, 
I  commend  you.  Whether  I  die,  or  live,  God  will 
take  care  of  you  till  he  lias  ripened  you  for  the  com- 
mon falvation.  Then  fha!l  I  meet  my  dear  brother 
Ward  again  ;  and  who  can  tell  how  much  more  in- 
teresting our  intercourse  in  heaven  will  be  made  by 
the  fcenes  that  moft  diftrefs  our  poor  fpirits  here. 
Oh,  had  I  none  to  live  for,  I  had  rather  die  than  l.ive, 
that  I  may  be  at  once  like  Him  whom  I  love.     But 

while 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearee.  1 2 1 

while  he  infures  me  Grace — why  fhould  I  regret  the 
delay  of  Glory  !  No:  I  will  wait  his  will,  who  per- 
forme th  all  things  for  me. 

"  My  dear  brother,  had  I  flrength,  I  fhould  rejoice 
to  acquaint  you  with  the  wre  filings  and  the  victories, 
the  hopes  and  the  fears,  the  plea  fares  and  the  pangs, 
which  I  have  lately  experienced,  but  I  mufi  forbear. 
All  I  can  now  fay  is,  that  God  hath  done  me  much 
good  by  all,  and  made  me  very  thankful  for  all  he 
has  done. 

"Alas-!  I  fhall  fee  you  no  more.  I  cannot  be  at 
Olney  on  the  7th  of  May.  The  journey  would  be 
my  death  •,  but  the  Lord  whom  you  ferve  will  be  with 
you  then,  and  for  ever.  My  love  to  all  the  dear  af- 
iembled  faints,  who  will  give  you  their  benediction* 
at'  that  folemn  feafon.. 

"  Ever  yours, 

S.  P." 

To  Dr.  RYLAND. 

u  Plymouth^  April  24,  1 7  99*. 
rt  Very  dear  brother, 

•"  MY  health  is  in  much  the  fame  ftate  as 
when  I  wrote  laft,  excepting  that  my  mufcular  ftrength 
rather  increafes,  and  my  powers  of  fpeaking  feem  lefs 
and  lefs  every  week.  1  have,  for  the  moil  part,  fpek- 
en  only  in  whifpers  for  feveral  days  pail-,  and  even 
tnefe  feem  too  much  for  my  irritable  lungs.  My  fa- 
ther afked  me  a  queftion  to-day ;  he  did  not  under- 
hand me  when  I  whifpered  •,  fo  I  was  obliged  to  utter 
one  word',  and  one  word  ptily,  a  little  louder,  and  that 
brought  on  a  forenefs,  which  I  expedl  to  feel  till 
bed  time. 

"I  anv 


122  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  I  am  ftill  looking  out  for  fine  weather  :  all  her: 
cold  and  rainy.  We  have  had  but  two  or  three  fair 
and  warm  days  fmce  I  have  been  here  ;  then  I  felt 
better.  I  am  perfectly  at  a  lofs  even  to  guefs  what 
the  Lord  means  to  do  with  me  •,  but  I  defire  to  com- 
mit my  ways  to  him,  and  be  at  peace.  I  am  going 
to-day  about  five  miles  into  the  country  (to  Tamer- 
ton;)  where  I  fliall  await  the  will  of  God  concern- 
ing me. 

"  I  knew  not  of  any  Committee-meeting  of  our  Soci- 
ety to  be  held  reipefting  Mr.  Marfhman  and  his  wife. 
I  have  therefore  fent  no  vote,  and  indeed  it  is  my 
happinefs  that  I  have  full  confidence  in  my  brethren, 
at  this  important  crifis,  fincc  clofe  thinking  or  much 
wrriting  always  increafes  my  fever,  and  promotes  my 
complaint. 

"  My  dear  brother,  I  hope  you  will  correfpond  much 
with  Kettering.  I  ufed  to  be  a  medium,  but  God 
has  put  me  out  of  the  way.  I  could  w;eep  that  I  can 
ferve  him  no  more  :  and  yet  I  fear  fome  would  be 
tears  of  pride.  Oh  !  for  perfe£i  likenefs  to  mv  hum- 
ble Lord  ! 

S.  1\" 

To    Mr.    KING. 

u  Tamer  tan,  J\fjy  2,  1 799. 

-GTVE  my  love  to  all  the  dear  peo- 


ple at  Cannon-ftreet.  Oh  pray  that  He  who  afflicts, 
would  give  me  patience  to  endure.  Indeed,  the  itate 
of  fufpenfe  in  which  I  have  been  kept  fo  long,  re- 
quires much  of  it  >  and  I  often  exciaim,  ere  I  am 
aware,  f  Oh  my  dear  people  !  Oh  my  dear  family  ! 
When  (hall  I  be  reftored  to  you  again  !'  The  Lord 
forgive  all  the  fin  of  my  defires  !    At  times  I  feel  a 

fweet 


Mr\   Samuel  Pcarce.-  12.3 

fweet  and  perfe#  calm,  and  wilh  ever  to  live  under 
the  influence  of  a  belief  fn  the  goodnefs  of  God,  and 
of  ail  his  plans,  and  all  his  works. 

S.  P." 

The  reader  has  (een  how  much  he  regretted  being 
abfent  from  the  foiemn  defignation  of  the  miffionaries 
at  Olnej.  He  however  add  re  fled  the  following  lines 
to  Mr.  Fuller,  which  were  read  at  the  clofe  of  that 
meeting,  to  the  difiblving  ef  nearly  the  whole  afferri- 
bly  in  tears  : — 

"  Taverton,  May  2,  IT 9?* 

-OH  that  the  Lord,  who  is  un con- 


fined by  place  or  condition,  may  copiouflv  pour  out 
upon  you  ail  the  rich  effufions  of  his  Holy  Spirit  on 
the  approaching  day  !  My  moil  hearty  love  to  each 
miffionary,  who  may  then  encircle  the  throne  of  grace. 
Happy  men  !  happy  women  !  you  are  going  to  be 
ieiijw-labourers  with  Chriit  himfelf !  I  congratulate — 
I  aimoil  envy  you  \  yet  I  love  you,  and  can  fcarcely 
now  forbear  dropping  a  tear  of  love  as  each  of  your 
names  pafTes  acrofe  my  mind.  Oh  what  promifes  are 
yours  •,  and  what  a  reward  !  Surely  heaven  is  filled 
with  double  joy,  s*nd  refounds  with  unufual  acclama- 
tions at  the  arrival  of  each  miffionary  there.  Oh  be 
fnl,  my  dear  brethren,  my  dear  fillers,  be  faithful 
unto  death,  and  all  this  joy  is  yours  !  Long  as  I  live, 
my  imagination  will  be  hovering  over  you  in  Bengal  \ 
and  fhouid  I  die,  if  feparate  fpirits  he  allowed  a  vifit 
to  the  world  they  have  left,  methinks  mine  would 
ibon  be  at  Mudnabatty,  watching  your  labours,  your 
conflicts,  and   y-^ur  pkafurejSj   v.  u  are  always 

abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

S.  P." 


To 


1 24  Memoirs  of  the  late 

To    Dr.    RYLAND. 

"  Plymouth,  May  14,  X799, 

*  My  dear  brother, 

«  YOURS  of  the  1  ith  inftant  I  have  juft  re- 
eeived,  and  thank  you  for  your  continued  concern  for 
your  poor  unworthy  brother. 

"  I  have  fuffered  much  in  my  health  fince  I  wrote 
to  you  laft,  by  the  increafe  of  my  feverilh  complaint, 
which  filled  me  with  heat  and  horror  all  nij^t,  and 
in  the  day  fometimes  almoft  fuffbcated  me  with  the 
violence  of  its  paroxyfms-  I  am  extremely  weak, 
and  now  that  warm  weather  which  I  came  into  De- 
von to  feek,  I  dread  as  much  as  the  cold,  becaufe  it 
excites  the  fever.  I  am  happy,  however,  in  the  Lord. 
I  have  not  a  with  to  live  or  die,  but  as.  he  pleafes.  I 
truly  enjoy  the  gofpel  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
wouid  not  be  without  his  divine  atonement,  wherein 
to  reft  my  foul,  for  ten  thoufand  worlds.  I  feel 
quite  weaned  from  earth,  and  all  things  in  it. 
X)eath  hath  loft  his  fting,  the  grave  its  horrors  $  and 
the  attractions  of  heaven,  I  had  almoft  faid,  are  fome^ 
ttimes  violent.. 

•  Oh  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor  F 

"  But  I  am  wearied.  May  all  grace  abound  towards 
my  dear  brother,  and  his  affeciionata 

S.  P." 

To  the  CHURCH  in  Cannon-ftreet. 

"Plymouth.,  May  Jr,  I? 99. 

"TO  the  dear  people  of  my  charge,  the  flock 
of  Chrift.,  afiembling  in  Cannon-flreet,  Birmingham; 
their  affii&ed  but  affe£iionate  Paftor,  prefenrs  his 
love  in  Chrift  Jefus,  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  flieep. 

**  My 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  125 

"  My  deareft,  dearcfl  friends  and  brethren, 

u  Separated  as  I  have  been  a  long  time  from  you, 
and  during  that  time  of  feparation,  having  fullered 
much  both  in  body  and  mind,  yet  my  heart  has  ftill 
been  with  you,  participating  in  your  forrows,  uniting 
in  your  prayers,  and  rejoicing  with  you  in  the  hope 
of  that  glory,  to  which  divine  faithfulnefs  has  engaged 
to  bring  us,  zn&for  which  our  heavenly  Father,  by  all 
his  providences,  and  by  every  operation  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  is  daily  preparing  us. 

"Never,  my  dear  brethren, did  I  fo  much  rejoice  in 
our  being  made  *  partakers  of  the  heavenly  calling,1  as 
during  my  late  afflictions.  The  fweet  thoughts  of  glo- 
ry, where  I  (hall  meet  my  dear  Lord  Jefus,  with  all  his 
redeemed  ones,  perfectly  freed  from  all  that  fin  which 
now  burdens  us,  and  makes  us  groan  from  day  to  day, 
— this  tranfports  my  foul,  whilft  out  of  weaknefs  I 
am  made  ftrong,  and  at  times  am  enabled  to  glory 
even  in  my  bodily  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Chrift, 
in  fupportuig  when  flefh  and  heart  fail,  may  the  more 
evidently  relt  upon  me.  Oh,  my  dear  brethren  and 
filters  !  let  me,  as  one  alive  alrhoit  from  the  dead,  let 
me  exhort  you  to  Hand  faff  in  that  blefled  gofpei, 
which  for  ten  years  I  have  now  preached  among  yon  : 
— the  gofpei  of  the  grace  of  God  •,  the  gofpei  of  free, 
full,  everlaiting  falvation,  founded  on  the  fuller ings 
and  death  of  God  manifeft  in  the  jlejh.  Lock  n:ucl 
this  all-amazing  fcene  ! 

4  Beheld  !   a  God  defcends  and  dies, 
To  fave  my  foul  from  gaping   iieil ;' 

And  then  fay  whether  any  poor  broken-hearted  {inner 
need  be  afraid  to  venture  his  hopes  of  falvation  on 
fuch  a  facrifice  ;  efpeciaiiy,  fince  He  who  is  thus 
*  mighty  to  fave^  hath  faid,  that  *  whoioever  cometh 
to  him  he  will  in  no  wife  caft  out/  You,  beloved, 
who   have   found  the   peaee-fpeaking   virtue   of   this 

blood 


1 26  Memoirs  of  the  late 

blood  of  atonement,  muft  not  be  fatisfied  with  what 
you  have  already  known  or  enjoyed.  The  only  way 
to  be  conftantly  happy,  and  conftantly  prepared  for 
the  molt  awful  changes  which  we  muft  all  expe- 
rience, is  to  be  conftantly  looking  and  coming  to  a  dying 
Saviour  :  renouncing  all  our  own  worth inefs  \  cleav- 
ing to  the  loving  Jefus  as  our  all  in  all ;  giving  up 
every  thing,  however  valuable  to  our  worldly  interefts, 
that  clafhes  with  our  fidelity  to  Chrift  ;  begging  that 
of  his  fulnefs  we  may  receive  *  grace  upon  grace/ 
whilft  our  faith  actually  relies  on  his  power  and  faith- 
fulnefs,  for  the  full  accomplifhment  of  every  promife 
in  his  word  that  v/e  plead  with  him,  and  guarding 
againft  every  thing  that  might  for  a  moment  bring 
diftance  and  darknefs  between  your  fouls,  and  your 
precious  Lord,  If  you  thus  live,  (and  oh  that  you 
may  daily  receive  freih  life  from  Chrift  fo  to  do  !) 
c  the  peace  of  God  will  keep  your  hearts  and  minds/ 
and  you  will  be  filled  v/ith  *  joy  unipeakable  and  full 
cf  glory.' 

"  As  a  Church,  you  cannot  conceive  what  pleafure  I 
have  enjoyed  in  hearing  that  you  are  in  peace  \  that 
you  attend  prayer-meetings  -y  that  you  feem  to  be  ftir- 
red  up  of  late  for  the  honour  and  profperity  of  religion* 
Go  on  in  thefe  good  ways,  my  beloved  friends,  and 
affuredly  the  God  of  peace  will  be  with  you.  Yea, 
if  after  all  I  fhould  be  taken  entirely  from  you,  yet 
God  will  furely  vifit  you,  and  never  leave  you,  nor, 
forfake  you. 

"  As  to  my  health,  I  feem  on  the  whole  to  be  (till 
mending,  though  but  very  llowly.  The  fever  troubles 
me  often,  both  by  day  and  night  \  but  my  ftrength 
increafes.  I  long  to  fee  your  faces  in  the  flefh  •,  yea, 
when  I  thought  myi'df  near  the  gates  of  the  grave,  I 
wifhed,  if  it  were  the  Lord's  will,  to  depart  among 
thole  whom  I  fo  much  loved.  But  I  am  in  good 
hands ;  and  all  muft  be  right. 

«  I  tfyank 


Mr*  Samuel  Pearct.  127 

"  I  thank  both  you  and  the  congregation  mod  affec- 
tionately, for  all  the  kindnefs  you  have  fhewn,  refpeft- 
ing  me  and  my  family,  during  my  abfence.  The 
Lord  return  it  a  thoufand  fold  !  My  love  to  every  one, 
both  old  and  young,  rich  and  poor  as  though  named. 
The  Lord  blefs  to  your  edification  the  occafional  minif- 
try  which  you  enjoy.  I  hope  you  regularly  attend  upon 
it,  and  keep  together,  as  ( the  horfes  in  Pharaoh's  char- 
iot/ I  pray  much  for  you :  pray,  (till  pray  for  your 
very  affectionate,  though  unworthy,  paltor, 

S.  P." 

In  a  poftfcript  to  Mr.  King,  he  fays,  "  I  have  made 
an  effort  to  write  this  letter :  my  affetlions  would  take 
no  denial ;  but  it  has  brought  on  the  fever." 

—  MM  9ew(g)0»00  0*03  — — 

It  feems  to  have  been  about  this  time  that  he 
\vrote  the  following  lines,  which  have  appeared  in 
feveral  periodical  publications,  but  with  many  inaccn* 
racies : 


«*> 


HYMN    IN    A    STORM. 

4i  IN  the  floods  of  tribulation, 

While  the  billows  o'er  me  roll* 
Jefus  whifpers  confolation, 

And  fupports  my  fainting  foul. 
Thus  the  lion    yields  me  honey, 

From  the  eater  food  is  given  ; 
Strengthen'd  thus,  I  (till  prefs  forward; 

Singing  as  I  wade  to  heaven,— 
Sweet  afRi&ion  !    fweet  affii&ionj 

That  brings  Jefus  to  my  foul ! 

'Mid 


128  Memoirs  of  the  late 

'Mid  the  gloom  the  vivid  lightnings 

With  increafed  brightnefs  play  ; 
'Mid  the  thornbrake,  beauteous  ilow'rets 

Look  more  beautiful  and  gay  : 
So,  in  darkeft  difpenfations, 

Doth  my  faithful  Lord  appear, 
With  his  richeft  confolations, 

To  re-animate  and  cheer. 

Sweet  affliction  !    fweet  affliction, 
Thus  to  bring  my  Saviour  near ! 

Floods  of  tribulation  heighten, 

Billows  ftill  around  me  roar ; 
Thofe  that  know  not  Christ — ye  frighten  ; 

But  my  foul  defies  your  pow'r. 
In  the  facred  page  recorded, 

Thus  his  word  fecurely  (lands,—- 
M  Fear  not,  I'm  in  trouble  near  thee, 

Nought  ihall  pluck  thee  from  my  hands." 
Sweet  affliction  !    fweet  affliction, 

That  to  fuch  fweet  words  lays  claim ! 

All  I  meet  I  find  aflifts  me 

In  my  path  to  heav'nly  joy, 
Where,  though  trials  now  attend  me> 

Trials  never  more  annoy  : 
Wearing  there  a  weight  of  glory, 

Still  the  path  I'll  ne'er  forget ; 
But,  reflecting  how  it  led  me 

To  my  bleffed  Saviour's  feat, 
Cry,  Affliction  !    fweet   affliction  f 

Hafle  !    bring  more  to  Jefus'  feet  !" 


— —  990*  3(Q)0  OOOO  6©00  O^^J  C  OOO  — 

Towards  the  lattef  end  of  May,  when  Mr.  Ward, 
and  his  companions,  were  juft  ready  to  fet  fail,  a  con- 
futation concerning  Mr.  Pearce  was  held  on  board 
the  Criterion)  in  which  all  the  miffionaries,  and  fome 

of 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ee*  129 

of  the  members  of  the  Baptift  Miflionary  Society  were 
prefent.  It  was  well  known  that  he  had  for  feveral 
years  been  engaged  in  preparing  materials  for  a  Hif- 
tory  of  Mi/JiofiSy  to  be  comprifed  in  two  volumes  octavo  : 
and  as  the  fending  of  the  gofpel  amongft  the  heathens 
had  fo  deeply  occupied  his  heart,  conuderable  expec- 
tations had  been  formed  by  religious  people,  of  his 
producing  an  interefting  work  6n  the  fubjeCL  The 
queftion  now  was,  Could  not  this  performance  be  fin- 
ifhed  by  other  hands,  and  the  profits  of  it  be  appro- 
priated to  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Pearce's  family  ?  It  was 
admitted  by  all,  that  this  work  would,  partly  from 
its  own  merits*  and  partly  from  the  great  intereft: 
which  the  author  juftly  poffeffed  in  the  public  efteem, 
be  very  productive  ;  and  that  it  would  be  a  delicate 
and  proper  method  of  enabling  the  religious  public, 
fey  fubferibing  liberally  to  it,  to  afford  fubftantial  affift- 
ance  to  the  family  of  this  excellent  man.  The  refult 
was,  that  one  of  the  members  of  the  Society  addreffed 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Pearce's  relations,  at  Plymouth,  requeft- 
ing  them  to  confult  him  as  he  mould  be  able  to  bear 
it,  reipetting  the  ltate  of  his  mariufcripts  ;  and  to  in- 
quire whether  they  were  in  a  condition  to  admit  of 
being  finiflied  by  another  hand  ;  deiiring  them  alfo  to 
aiTure  him,  for  his  prefent  relief  concerning  his  dear 
family,  that  whatever  the  hand  of  friendfhip  could  ef- 
fect on  their  behalf,  mould  be  accomplilhed.  The 
anfwer,  though  it  left  no  manner  of  hope  as  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  object,  yet  is  fo  expreflive  of  the 
reigning  dilpoiitions  of  the  writer's  heart,  as  an  affec- 
tionate huiband,  a  tender  father,  a  grateful  friend,  md 
a  fmcere  Chriitia-11,  that  it  cannot  be  uninterefting  to 
the  reader : — 

"  Tawcrion,  June  24,  *799« 

"TO  ufe  the  common  introduction  of  'dear 
brother/  would  fall  fo  far  fhort  of  my  feelings  towards 

a  friend, 

M 


130  Memoirs  of  the  late 

a  friend,  whofe  uniform  conduct  has  ever  laid  fo  great 
a  claim  to  my  affetlion  and  gratitude  •,  but  whofe  re- 
cent kindnefs, — kindnefs  in  adverfity — kindnefs  to  my 

wife — kindnefs  to  my  children kindnefs  that  would 

go  far  to  «  fmooth  the  bed  of  death/  has  overwhelmed 
my  whole  foul  in  tender  thankfulnefs,  and  engaged 
my  everlafting  efteem.  I  know  not  how  to  begin. 
.  .  .  *  Thought  is  poor,  and  poor  exprefiion  :'  The 
only  thing  that  lay  heavy  on  my  heart,  when  in  the 
neareft  profpeft  of  eternity,  was  the  future  fituation 
of  my  family.  I  had  but  a  comparatively  fmall  por- 
tion to  leave  behind  me,  and  yet  that  little  was  the 
all  that  an  amiable  woman,  delicately  brought  up,  and, 
through  mercy,  for  the  moft  part  comfortably  provi- 
ded for  fince  (he  entered  on  domeftic  life, — with  five 
babes  to  feed,  clothe,  and  educate,  had  to  fubfift  on. 
Ah,  what  a  profpeft  !  Hard  and  long  I  ftrove  to  real- 
ize the  promifes  made  to  the  widows  and  the  father- 
lefs  \  but  thefe  alone  I  could  not  fully  reft  on  and  enjoy. 
For  my  own  part,  God  was  indeed  very  gracious.  I 
was  willing,  1  hope/to  linger  in  fuffering,  if  I  might 
thereby  moft  glorify  him,  and  death  was  an  angel 
whom  I  longed  to  come  and  embrace  me,  i  cold*  as 
his  embraces  are.  But  how  could  I  leave  thofe  who 
were  deareft  to  my  heart  in  the  midft  of  a  world,  in 
which,  although  thoufands  now  profefled  friendfhip 
for  me,  and,  on  my  account,  for  mine ;  yet  after  my 
deceafe,  would,  with  few  exceptions,  foon  forget  my 
widow  and  my  children,  among  the  crowds  of  the 
needy  and  diftreffed. — It  was  at  this  moment  of  pain- 
ful fen fibility  that  your  heart  meditated  a  plan  to  re- 
move my  anxieties*, — apian  too  that  would  involve 
much  perfonal  labour  before  it  could  be  accomplifhed. 
'Bleffed  be  God,  who  put  it  into  thy  heart,  afcd  blefl- 
ed  be  thou.'  May  the  blefting  of  the  widow  and  the 
fatherlefs  reft  on  you  and  yours  for  ever.  Amen  and 
amen ! 

«  You 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  i 3 1 

"  You  will  regret  perhaps  that  I  have  taken  up  fo 
much  room  refpecling  yourfelf,  but  I  have  fcarcely 
gratified  the  fhadow  of  my  wiflies.  Excufe  then  on 
the  one  hand,  that  I  have  faid  fo  much,  and  accept 
on  the  other,  what  remains  unexprefled. 

"  My  affe&ions  and  defires  are  among  my  dear 
people  at  Birmingham  ;  and  unlefs  I  find  my  flrength 
increafe  here,  I  purpofe  to  fet  out  for  that  place  in  the 
courfe  of  a  fortnight,  or  at  mod  a  month.  The  jour- 
ney, performed  by  fhort  ftages,  may  do  me  good  :  if 
not,  I  expe£t  when  the  winter  comes  to  fleep  in  peace  5 
arid  it  will  delight  my  foul  to  fee  them  once  more  be- 
fore I  die.  Befides,  J  have  many  little  arrangements 
to  make  among  my  books  and  papers,  to  prevent  con- 
fufion  after  my  deceafe.  Indeed,  till  I  get  home,  I 
cannot  fiUly  anfwer  your  kind  letter  \  but  I  fear  that 
my  materials  confift  fo  much  in  references,  which  none 
but  myfelf  would  underftand,  that  a  fecond  perfon 
could  not  take  it  up,  and  profecute  it.  I  am  fiill 
equally  indebted  to  you  for  a  propofal  fo  generous,  io 
laborious. 

«  Rejoice  with  me,  that  the  bleffed  gofpel  (till 
c  bears  my  fpirits  up.'  I  am  become  familiar  with 
trie  thoughts  of  dying.  I  have  taken  my  leave  often 
of  the  world  \  and  thanks  be  to  God,  I  do  it  always 
with  tranquillity ,  and  often  with  rapture.  Oh,  what 
grace,  what  grace  it  was,  that  ever  called  me  to  be  a 
Chriftian  !  What  would  have  been  my  prefent  feel- 
ings, if  I  were  going  to  meet  God  with  all  the  filth 
arid  load  of  my  fin  about  me  !  But  God  in  my  na- 
ture hath  put  my  fin  away,  taught  me  to  love  him, 
and  long  for  his  appearing.  Oh,  my  dear  brother, 
how  confonant  is  everlajling  praife  with  fuch  a  great 
falvation  ! 

S.  P." 

After 


i$2  Memoirs  of  the  late 

After  this,  another  letter  was  addrefled  to  Mr. 
Pearce,  informing  him  more  particularly  that  the  above 
propofal  did  not  originate  with  an  individuality  with 
feveral  of  the  brethren  who  dearly  loved  him,  and  had 
confulted  on  the  bufinefs  •,  and  that  it  was  no  more 
than  an  act  of  jultice  to  one  who  had  fpent  his  life  in 
ferving  the  public  •,  alfo  rcguefting  him  to  give  direc- 
tions by  which  his  manuscripts  might  be  found  and 
examined,  left  he  {hould  be  taken  away  before  his  ar- 
rival  at  Birmingham.     To  this  he  anfwered  as  follows  : 

"  Plymouth,  July  6,  I  799. 

"  I  NEED  not  repeat  the  growing  fenfe  I  have 
cf  your  kindnefs,  and  yet  I  know  not  how  to  forbear. 

"  I  cannot  direct  Mr.  K to  all  my  papers,  as 

many  of  them  are  in  books  from  which  I  was  making 
extracts  ;  and  if  I  could,  I  am  perfuaded  that  they 
are  in  a  itat^e  too  confufed,  incorrect,  and  unfinifhed, 
to  fuffer  you  or  any  other  friend  to  realize  your  kind 
intentions. 

u  I  have  pofiefled  a  tenacious  memory.  I  have  be- 
gun one  part  of  the  hiftory  ;  read  the  neceflary  books  ; 
reflected  \  arranged  ;  written,  perhaps,  the  introduc- 
tion ;  and  then,  trufting  to  my  recollection,  with  the 
revifal  of  the  books  as  I  ihould  want  them,  have  em- 
ployed myfelf  in  getting  materials  for  another  part, 
&c.  Thus,  till  my  illnefs,  the  volumes  exifted  in  my 
head, — my  books  were  at  hand,  and  I  was  on  the  eve 
of  writing  them  out,  when  it  pleated  God  to  make 
me  paufe  :  and,  as  clofe  thinking  has  been  itrongly 
forbidden  me,  I  dare  fay,  that  were  I  again  reftored 
to  health,  I  (hould  find  it  neceflary  to  go  over  much 
of  my  former  reading  to  refrefh  memory. 

"  It  is  now  Saturday.  On  Monday  next  we  propofe 
fetting  out  on  our  return.     May  the  Lord  profper  our 

way  ! 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ce.  133 

way  !    Accept  the  fincere  affection,  and  the  ten  thou- 
fand  thanks,  of  your  brother  in  the  Lord, 

S.  P." 

As  the  manufcripts  were  found  to  be  in  fuch  a 
ftate,  that  no  perfon,  except  the  author  himfelf,  could 
finifli  them,  the  defign  was  neceffafily  dropped.  The 
public  mind,  however,  was  deeply  impreffed  With  Mr* 
Pearce's  worth,  and  that,  which  the  friendihip  of  a 
few  could  not  effect,  has  fined  been  amply  accompiiuV 
edby  the  liberal  exertions  of  many. 

To   Mr.   BIRT. 

u   Birmingham,   July  z6,  1V)9< 

"  IT  is  not  with  common  feelings  that  I  1 
a  letter  Co  yen.  Your  name  brings  fo  many  intereft- 
ing  circumflarices  of  my  life  before  me,  in  which  your 
friendfhip  has  been  fo  uniformly  and  eminently  dis- 
played, that  nowy  amidit  the  imbecilities  of  ficknefs, 
and  the  ferious  profpectof  another  world,  my  heart 
is  overwhelmed  with  gratitude*  whilil  it  glows  with 
affection, — an  affection  which  eternity  {hall  not  anni- 
hilate, but  improve^ 

"  We' reached  Briftol' on  the  Friday  after  we  parted 
from  you,  having  fuited  our  progrefs  to  my  ftrength 
and  fpirits,  We  ftaid  with  Briftol  friends  till  Mon- 
day, when  we  purfued  our  journey,  and  went  com- 
fortably on,  till  the  uncommonly  rough  road  from 
Tewkefbury  to  Evefham  quite  jaded  me;  and  I  have 
not  yet  recovered,  from  the  exceffive  fatigue  of  that 
miferable  ride. ••*-  At  Alcefte'r  we  reded  a  day  and  a 
half,  and,  through  the  abundant  goodnefs  of  God,  we 
fafely  arrived  at  Birmingham  en  Friday  evening,  the 
19th  of  July,    • 

M  Z  &  I  feel 


*  34  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"  I  feel  an  undiflurbed  tranquillity  of  foul,  and  am 
cheerfully  waiting  die  will  of  God.  My  voice  is  gone, 
fo  that  I  cannot  whifper  without  pain  ;  and  of  this 
circumftance  I  am  at  times  mod  ready  to  complain. 
For,  to  fee  my  dear  and  amiable  Sarah  look  at  me,  and 
then  at  the  childre?i>  and  at  length  bathe  her  face  in 
tears,  without  my  being  able  to  fay  one  kind  word  of 

comfort, Oh  !!.... Yet  the  Lord  fup- 

ports  me  under  this  alfo  \  and  I  truft  will  fupport  me 
to  the  end.  g    p  „ 


To    Mr.    ROCK. 

July  a8,  1799- 

€i 1  AM  now  to  all  appearance  within  a 

few  fteps  of  eternity.     In  Chrift  I  am  fafe.     In  him 
I  am  happy.     I  truft  we  {hall  meet  in  heaven. 

S.  P." 

To    R.    BOWYER,  Efq. 

"   Birmingham )  Augujt  i,  1 799. 

"MUCH  difappointed  that  I  am  not  releafed 
from  this  world  of  fin,  and  put  in  pofieffion  of  the 
pleafufes  enjoyed  by  the  fpirits  of  juft  men  made  per- 
fect, I  once  more  addrefs  my  dear  fellow  heirs  of  that 
glory  which  ere  long  fhall  be  revealed  to  us  all. 

u  We  returned  from  Devon  laft  Friday  week.  I 
was  exceedingly  weak,  and  for  feveral  days  afterwards 
got  rapidly  worfe.  My  friends  compelled  me  to  try 
another  phyfician.  I  am  ft  ill  told  that  I  (hall  recover. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  I  wifh  to  have  my  own  will  anni- 
hilated, that  the  will  of  the  Lord  may  be  done. 
Through  his  abundant  grase,  I  have  been,  and  ftill 

am 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  135 

am  happy  hi  my  foul ;  and  I  trufl  my  prevailing  de- 
fire  is,  that  living  or  dying  I  may  be  the  Lord's. 

S.  P." 


To    R.    BOWYER,   Efq. 

On  his  having  fent  him    a  print  of  Mr.  Schwartz, 
the  MiJTionary  en  the  Malabar  coajl. 

"   Birmingham  ^  Aug.  1 6,  1 799. 

"  ON  three  accounts  was  your  lad  parcel 
highly  acceptable.  It  reprefented  a  man,  whom  I 
have  long  been  in  the  habit  of  loving  and  revering  -y 
and  whofe  character  and  labours  I  intended,  if  the  Lord 
had  not  laid  his  hand  upon  me  by  my  prefent  illnefs, 
to  have  prefented  to  the  public  in  Europe,  as  he  him- 
ferf  prefented  them  to  the  millions  of  Afia. — The  exe- 
cution bearing  fo  ftrong  a  iikenefs  to  the  original, 
heightened  its  value.  And  then,  the  hand  from 
whence  it  came,  and  the  friendship  it  was  intended 
to  exprefs,  add  to  its  worth. 

S.  P." 


«»^»  •000  -^»c«co     ^4» 

To   Mr.  FULLER, 

"    Birmingham^   Aug.   19,  1*99- 

"THE  doctor  has  been  making  me  worfe  and 
weaker  for  three  weeks.  In  the  middle  of  the  lap; 
week  he  fpoke  confidently  of  my  recovery  :  but  to- 
day he  has  fcen  fit  to  alter  his  plans ,  and  if  I  do  not 
find  a  fpeedy  alteration  for  the  better,  I  muft  have 
done  with  all  phyficians>  but  Him,  who  €healeth  the 
broken  in  heart.' 

«  For 


136  Memoirs  of  the  late 

"For  fome  time  after  I  came  home,  I  was  led  to 
believe  my  cafe  to  be  confumptive,  and  then  thinking 
myfelf  of  a  certainty  near  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  I 
rejoiced  hourly  in  the  delightful  pro'fpedl. 

"Since  then,  I  have  been  told  that  I  am  not  in  a 
dangerous  way ;  and  though  I  give  very  little  credit 
to  fuch  aiTertions  in  this  cafe,  yet  I  have  found  my 
mind  fo  taken  up  with  earth  again,  that  I  feem  as 
though  I  had  another  fouL  My  fpiritual  pleafures 
are  greatly  interrupted,  and  fome  of  the  moil  plain- 
tive parts  of  the  moft  plaintive  Pfalms  feem  the  only 
true  language  of  my  heart.  Yet,  cThy  will  be  done/  I 
truft,  prevails ;  and  if  it  be  the  Lord's  will  that  I  lin- 
ger long,  and  fuller  much,  Oh  let  him  give  me  the 
patience  of  hope,  and  ftill,  his  will-  be  done. — I  can 
write  no  more.  This  is  a  whole  day's  work  ;  for  it 
is  only  after  tea  that  for  a  few  minutes  I  can  fit  up, 
^nd  attend  to  anv  thing.  , 

S.  P.". 

From  the  latter  end  of  Auguft,  and  all  through  the 
month  of  September  to  the  tenth  of  O&ober,  the  day 
on  which  he  died,  lie  feems  to  have  been  unable  to 
write. — He  did  not,  however,  lofc  the  exercife  of  his 
mental-powers  ;  and  -though  in  the  laft  of  the  above 
letters  he  complains  of  darknefs,  it  appears  that  Jie 
foon  recovered  that  peace  and'  joy  in  God,  by  which 
his  affli&ion,  arid  even  his  Ufa;  were  diftinguifhed. 

Four  excellent  letters,  addrefled  to  Dr.  Ryland, 
Mr.  Pope,  and  Mr.  'King,  appear  at- the  end  of 
his  funeral  fermon,  publifhed  by  Dr.  Ryland,  togeth- 
er with  various  fhort  fentences,  which  he  dropped 
during  the  laft  five-  or  fix  weeks-  of  his  life.  And 
as  the   readers  ofi  the.  Sermon    will   probably   wifh 

to- 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  137 

to  have  it  bound  up  with  the  Memoirs,  both  are  con- 
nected together  for  that  purpofe. 

A  little  before  he  died,  he  was  vifited  by  Mr.  Med- 
ley, of  London,  with  whom  he  had  been  particularly 
intimate  on  his  fir  ft  coming  to  Birmingham.  Mr.  . 
Pearce  was  much  affected  at  the  fight  of  his  friend  ; 
and  continued  filently  weeping  for  nearly  ten  minutes, 
holding  and  prefling  his  hand.  After  this,  he  fpoke, 
or  rather,  wlufpered  as  follows: — u  This  fick  bed  is  a 
Bethel  to  me  :  it  is  none  other  than  the  houfe  of  God, 
and  the  gate  of  heaven.  I  can  fcarcely  exprefs  the 
pleafures  that  I  have  enjoyed  in  this  affliction.  The 
nearer  I  draw  to  my  diflblution,  the  happier  I  am. 
It  fcarcely  can  be  called  an  affliction,  it  is  fo  counter- 
balanced with  joy.  You  have  loft  your  pious  father  : 
tell  me  how  it  was/' — Here  Mr.  Medley  informed 
him  of  particulars.  He  wept  much  at  the  recital, 
and  efpecially  at  hearing  of  his  laft  words, — "  Home, 
Home  !"  Mr.  Medley  telling  him  of  fome  tempta- 
tions he  had  lately  met  with,  he  charged  him  to  keep 
near  to  God.  "  Keep  clofe  to  God,"  faid  he,  "  and 
nothing  will  hurt  you  !" 


The  following  familiar  competitions,  which  were 
found  amongit  Mr.  Pearce's  papers,  appear  to  have 
been  written  at  diftant  intervals  : — 

•  Jefus  Chrift  our  Lord,  both  theirs  and  curs  J   1  Cor.  i.  2. 


"  SWEEP  are  the  gifts  which  gracious  Heav'n 

On  true  Believers  pours  ; 
But  the  beit  gift  is  grace  to  know 

Thai  Jefus  Chrift  is  ours. 

Our 


1 38  Memoirs  of  the  late 

Our  Jefus  1   what  rich  drops  of  blifs 
Defcend  in  copious  ihow'rs, 

When  ruin'd  iinners,  fuch  as  we, 
By  faith  can  call  him  ours. 

Differ  we  may  in  age  and  ftate,  . 

Learning  and  mental  pow'rs, 
Eat  all  the  faints  may  join  and  fhout,  , 

Dear  Jefus  !   thcu  art  curs. 

Let  thofe  who  know  our  Jefus  not, 

Delight  in  earth's  gay  flow'rs  ; 
We,  glorying  in  our  better  lot,  . 
Rejoice  that  He  is  ours. 

When  hope,  with  elevated  flight, 

Tow'rds  heav'n  in  rapture  tow'rs, 

*Tis  this  fupports  our  ventrous  wing, 
We  know  that  Chrift  is  ours. 

Though  providence,  with  dark'ning  iky, 
On  things  terreftriai  lours, 

We  rife  fuperior  to  the  gloom 

When  finging,  Chrift  is  ours. 

Time,  which  this  world,  with  all  its  joys, 
With  eager  -hafte  -devours,- 

May  take  inferior  things  away, 
But  Jefus  full  is  ours. 

Hake  then,  dull  time,  and  terminate 
Thy  flow  revolving  hours  : 

We  wifh,  we  pray,  we  long,  we  pant 
Jn .Heav'n  to  call  him  ours!" 


"  Plain- 


Mr.  Samuel.  Plane.  13*9 

"  Plain  Dealing  with  a  Bacijliding  \  Heart r" 


«  STUPID  foul,  to  folly  cleaving, 
Why  has  God  no  more  thy  heart ; 

Why  art  thou  thy  mercies  leaving  ; 
Why  rauft  thou  with  Jefus  part  i 

Is  there  in  this  world  exifting 
Aught  with  Jefus  to  compare; 

Yea,  can  heav'n  itfelf  produce  one 
Half  fo  lovely,  half  fo  fair  I 

Ah  !  look  back  upon  the  feafon, 
When  tiiy  foul  the  Saviour  chofe 

For  thy  portion,  and  thy  fpirit 
Did  with  his  falvation  clofe. 

Ah  !   remember  thine  efpoufals  ; 

Didft  thou  not  with  Ciirift  agree, 
Leaving  all  thy  former  lovers, 

His  and  his  alone  to  be  ? 

In  his  love  thy  pow'rs  exulting. 
What  did  all  below  appear  ; 

Was  there  aught  feem'd  worth  poiTefling> 
Worthy  of  a  hope  or  fear  ? 

When  thy  heart,  by  grace  in  (trucked, 
iearnt  the  world  todifefteem, 

And  to  Chrifr  for  all  reforted, 
Was  there  not  enough  in  him  ? 

Yes  ;  thou  know'ft  thy  joyful  fpirit 
Knew  no  unfulflll'd  defire  ; 

Longing  dill,  and  (Hll  receiving 
Fuel  for  the  heav'nly  fire. 


"Why 


140  Memoirs  of  the  latt 

Why  then,  tell  me,  now  fo  lifelefs, 
Why  this  heav'nly  fountain  leave  J 

Why  to  broken  cifterns  feeking, 
Citterns  that  no  water  give  i 

Doth  not  difappointment  follow 
Ev'ry  ftep  ,that  leads  from  God  ; 

Have  not  piercing  thorns  and  briers 

Shown  their  points  thtough  all  the  road  ? 

Recollect,  'tis  thus,  the  Saviour 
Says  he  will  thy  foul  reclaim* 

With  weeping  and  with  fupplication* 
Humbly  offer'd  through  his  name/' 


ci  Invocation  to  returning  Peace. 


u  SWEET  Peace,  return  !   thy  wonted  blifs  feftore,- 
Bid  war's  infatiate  fcourge  prevail  no  more  ; 
Sheath  the  dread  fword  that  deals  defrruction  round, 
And  ev'ry  ear  falute  with  tranquil  found  ! 
Oh  !   bid  oppreflion  from  each  land  retire, 
And  Briton's  fons  with  halcyon  blifs  infpire  } 
Remove  the  mis'ry  of  domestic  woesy 
And  hum  the  tumult  of  contending  foes  ! 
Let  each,  with  patriot  zeal,  all  ftrife  difown  ; 
Be  one  their  wiihes,  and  their  motives  one4 
The  widow's  tears,  her  fad  corroding  care, 
The  orphan's  Cghs,  afTift  this  ardent  pray'r  : 
May  rj£  on  whom  propitious  fortune  fmiles, 
Relieve  that  breaft  which  adverfe  fate  beguiles  \ 
May  virtue's  impulfe  ev'ry  purpofe  move, 
To  aels  of  goodnefs,  universal  love  !" 

CHAP. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  *4T 

CHAP.    V. 

CENERAL    OUTLINES    OF     HIS    CHARACTER, 

1  O  develop  the  character  of  any  perfon,  it 
is  necefiary  to  determine  what  was  his  governing 
principle.  If  this  can  be  clearly  ascertained,  we  fhali 
eafily  account  for  the  tenor  of  his  conduct. 

The  governing  principle  in  Mr.  Pearce,  beyond  all 
doubt,  was  Holy  Love. 

To  mention  this,  is  Sufficient  to  prove  it  to  all  who 
knew  him.  His  friends  have  often  compared  him  to 
that  difciple  ivhom  Jefus  loved.  His  religion  was  that 
of  the  heart.  Almoft  every  thing  he  faw,  or  heard, 
or  read,  or  ftudied,  was  converted  to  the  feeding  of 
this  divine  flame.  Every  fubject  that  paffed  through 
his  hands,  feemed  to  have  been  call  into  this  mould. 
Things,  that  to  a  merely  fpeculative  mind  would  have 
furnifned  matter  only  for  curiofity,  to  him  afforded 
materials  for  devotion.  His  fermons  were  generally 
the  effufions  of  his  heart,  and  invariably  aimed  at  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers. 

For  the  juftnefs  of  the  above  remarks,  I  might  ap- 
peal not  only  to  the  letters  which  he  addrefled  to  his 
friends,  but  to  thofe  which  his  friends  addrefled  to 
him.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  how  much  we  are  influ- 
enced in  our  correfpondence  by  the  turn  of  mind  of 
the  perfon  we  addrefs.  If  we  write  to  a  humourous 
charafter,  we  (hall  generally  find  that  what  we  write, 
perhaps  without  being  conicious  of  it,  will  be  inter- 
fperfed  with  pleafantries  :  or  if  to  one  of  a  very  ferious 
caft,  our  letters  will  be  more  ferious  than  ufual.  On 
this  principle,  it  has  been  thought,  we  may  form  fome 

judgment 
N 


r^l  Memoirs  of  the  late 

judgment  of  our  own  fpirit  by  the  fpirit  in  which  our 
friends  addrefs  us.  Thefe  remarks  will  apply  with 
fingular  propriety  to  the  correfpondence  of  Mr.  Pearce. 
In  looking  over  the  firft  volume  of  Periodical  Accounts 
cfthe  Baptijl  Miffion^  the  reader  will  eafily  perceive  the 
moft  affe&ionate  letters  from  the  miffionaries  are  thofc 
which  are  addreffed  to  him. 

It  is  not  enough  to  fay  of  this  afFe&ionate  fpirit  that 
it  formed  a  prominent  feature  in  his  chara&er  :  it  was 
rather  the  life-blood  that  animated  the  .whole  fyftem. 
He  feemed,  as  one  of  his  friends  obferved,  to  be  bap- 
tized in  it.  It  was  holy  love  that  gave  the  tone  to  his 
general  deportment :  as  a  fon,  a  fubjeft,  a  neighbour, 
a  Chriftlan,  a  minuter,  a  pallor,  a  friend,  a  hufband, 
and  a  father,  he  was  manifestly  governed  by  this  prin- 
ciple ;  and  this  it  was  that  produced  in  him  that  lovely 
uniformity  of  character,  which  confiitutes  the  true 
beauty  of  holinefs. 

By  the  grace  of  God  he  was  what  he  was  ;  and  to 
the  honour  of  grace,  and  not  for  the  glory  of  a  finful 
worm,  be  it  recorded.  Like  all  other  men,  he  was 
the  fubjecl  of  a  depraved  nature.  He  felt  it,  and  la- 
mented it,  and  longed  to  depart,  that  he  might  be 
freed  from  it  :  but  certainly  we  have  feldom  feen  a 
chara&er,  taking  him  altogether,  "  whofe  excellencies 
were  fo  many,  and  fo  uniform,  and  whofe  imperfec- 
tions were  fo  few."  We  have  feen  men  rife  high  in 
contemplation,  who  have  abounded  but  little  in  aftion 
— We  have  feen  zeal  mingled  with  bitternefs,  and 
candour  degenerate  into  indifference  ;  experimental 
religion  mixed  with  a  large  portion  of  enthufiafm,  and 
what  is  called  rational  religion  void  of  every  thing 
that  interefts  the  heart  of  man — We  have  feen  fplen- 
did  talents  tarnifhed  with  infufferable  pride,  feriouf- 
jiefs  with  melancholy,  cheerfulnefs  with  levity,  and 
great  attainments  in  religion  with  uncharitable  cenfo- 

rioufnef;. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  143 

fioufnefs  towards  men  of  low  degree  : — but  we  have 
not  feen  thefe  things  in  our  brother  Pearce. 

There  have  been  few  men  in  whom  has  been  uni- 
ted a  greater  portion  of  the  contemplative  and  the  ac- 
tive •,  holy  zeal,,  and  genuine  candour  j  fpirituality, 
and  rationality  \  talents,  that  attracted  almoft  univer- 
fal  applaufe,  and  the  moft  unaffected  modefty -,  faith- 
fulness in  bearing  teftimony  againit  evil,  with  the  ten- 
derefl  companion  to  the  foul  of  the  evil  doer ;  fortitude 
that  would  encounter  any  difficulty  in  the  way  of  duty, 
without  any  thing  boifterous,  noify,  or  overbearing  j 
deep  ferioufnefs,  with  habitual  cheerful  nefs  ;  and  a 
conftant  ^iim  to  promote  the  higheft  degrees  of  piety 
ill  himfelf  and  others,  with  a  readinefs  to  hope  the 
bed  of  the  lowed  ;  not  breaking  the  brwjfd  reed>  nor 
quenching  the fmoking Jlax. 

He  loved  the  divine  character  as  revealed  in  the  Scrip- 
tures.— To  adore  God,  to  contemplate  his  glorious 
perfections,  to  enjoy  his  favour,  and  to  fubmit  to  his 
difpofal,  were  his  higheft  delight.  "  I  felt,"  fays  he, 
when  contemplating  the  hardfhips  of  a  miffionary  life, 
u  that  were  the  univerfe  deftroyed,  and  I  the  only  be- 
ing in  it  befides  God,  he  is  fully  adequate  to  my  com- 
plete happinefs ;  and  had  I  been  in  an  African  wood, 
iurrou nded  with  venomous  ferpents,  devouring  beafts, 
and  favage  men  ;  in  fuch  a  frame,  I  mould  be  the 
fubjecl:  of  perfect  peace,  and  exalted  joy.  Yes,  O 
my  God  !  thou  haft  taught  me  that  thou  alone  art 
worthy  of  my  confidence  ;  and,  with  this  fentiment 
fixed  in  my  heart,  I  am  freed  from  all  folicitude  about 
my  temporal  concerns.  If  thy  prefence  be  enjoyed, 
poverty  ihali  be  riches,  darkneis  light,  affliction  prof- 
perity,  reproach  my  honour,  and  fatigue  my  reft  !" 

He  loved  the  go/pel. — The  truths  which  he  believed 
and  taught,  dwelt  richly  in  him,  in  all  wifdom  and 

fpiritual 


144  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fpiritual  understanding.  The  reader  will  recollect 
how  he  went  over  the  great  principles  of  Chriftianity, 
examining  the  grounds  on  whicli  he  refted,  in  the 
firft  of  thofe  days  which  he  devoted  to  folemn  fading 
and  prayer  in  reference  to  his  becoming  a  miflionary  ;* 
and  with  what  ardent  affection  he  let  his  feal  anew 
to  every  part  of  divine  truth  as  he  went  along. 

If  falvation  had  been  of  works,  few  men,  according 
to  our  way  of  eftimating  characters,  had  a  fairer  claim  : 
but,  as  he  himfeif  has  related,  he  could  not  meet  the 
king  of  terrors  in  this  armour.-}*  So  far  was  he  from 
placing  any  dependence  on  his  own  works*  that  the 
more  he  did  for  God,  the  lefs  he  thought  of  it  in  fuch 
a  way.  "  All  the  fatisfa&ion  I  wifli  for  here/'  fays 
he,  "  is  to  be  doing  my  heavenly  Father's  wiil.  I  hope 
I  have  found  it  my  meat  and  drink  to  do  his  work  \ 
and  can  fet  to  my  feal,  that  the  purefe  pleafures  of  hu- 
man life  fpring  from  the  humble  obedience  of  faith. 
It  is  a  good  faying,  « We  cannot  do  too  much  for  God, 
nor  truft  in  what  we  do  too  little.'  I  find  a  growing 
conviction  of  the  neceffity  of  a  free  falvation.  The 
more  I  do  for  God,  the  lefs  I  think  of  it  \  and  am 
progreflively  afhamed  that  I  do  no  more/' 

Chrift  crucified  was  his  darling  theme,  from  firft  to 
laft.  This  was  the  fubjett  on  which  he  dwelt  at  the 
outfet  of  his  miniftry  among  the  Coldford  colliers, 
when,  "  He  could  fcarcely  {peak  for  weeping,  nor 
they  hear  for  interrupting  fighs  and  fobs  -,"  this  was 
the  burden  of  the  fong  when  addreffing  the  more  pol- 
iihed  and  crouded  audiences  at  Birmingham,  London, 
and  Dublin  •,  this  was  the  grand  motive  exhibited  in 
lermons  for  the  promotion  of  public  charities  •,  and 
this  was  the  rock  on  which  he  relied  all  his  hopes,  in 
the  profpect  of  death.  It  is  true,  as  we  have  feen,  he 
was  fhaken  for  a  time  by  the  writings  of  a  Whitby y 

and 

*  See  Chap.  II.  p.  46.  f  Chap.  L  P-  l8* 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce.  145 

and  of  a  Prlejlley :  but  this  tranfient  hefitation,  by  the 
overruling  grace  of  God,  tended  only  to  eftablifh  hi;:! 
more  firmly  in  the  end.  "  Blefied  be  his  dear  name," 
fays  he  under  his  laft  affliftion,  "  who  fried  his  blood 
for  me.  He  helps  me  to  rejoice  at  times  with  joy 
unfpeakable.  Now  I  fee  the  value  of  the  religion  of 
the  crofs.  It  is  a  religion  for  a  dying  finner.  It  is 
ail  the  molt  guilty,  and  the  mod  wretched  can  defire. 
Yes,  I  tafle  its  fweetnefs,  and  enjoy  its  fulnefs,  with 
all  the  gloom  of  a  dying  bed  before  me  \  and  far 
rather  would  I  be  the  poor  emaciated  and  emaciating 
creature  that  I  am,  than  be  an  emperor  with  every 
earthly  good  about  him>  but  without  a  God." 

Notwithftanding  this,  however,  there  were  thofe  in 
Birmingham,,  and  other  places,  who  would  not  allow 
that  he  preached  the  gofpeL  And  if  by  the  gofpel  were 
meant  the  doctrine  taught  by  Mr.  Huntington,  Mr. 
Bradford,  and  others  who  follow  hard  after  them,  it 
muit  be  granted  he  did  not.  If  the  fall  and  depravity 
of  man  operate  to  deftroy  his  accountablenefs  to  his 
Creator  ;  if  his  inability  to  obey  the  law,  or  comply 
with  the  gofpel,  be  of  fuch  a  nature  as  to  excufe  him 
in  the  neglecl:  of  either  ,  or  if  not,  yet  if  Chrift's  com- 
ing under  the  law,  frees  believers  from  all  obligation 
to  obey  its  precepts  ;  if  gofpel  invitations  are  addrefleci 
only  to  the  regenerate ;  if  the  illuminating  influence^ 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  conilft  in  revealing  to  us  the  fecret 
purpofes  of  God  concerning  us,  or  impre  fling  us  with 
the  idea  that  we  are  the  favourites  of  Heaven  *,  if  be- 
lieving fuch  impreflions  be  Chriftian  faith,  and  doubt- 
ing of  their  validity  unbelief  -,  if  there  be  no  fuch 
thing  as  progreflive  fanctification,  nor  any  fanclifioa- 
tion  inherent,  except  that  of  the  illumination  before 
defcribed  •,  if  wicked  men  are  not  obliged  to  dc  any 
thing  beyond  what  they  can  find  in  their  hearts  to  do, 
nor  good  men  to  be  holy  beyond  what  they  actually 

art  j 
N2 


1 46  Memoirs  of  the  late 

are  y  and  if  thefe  things  conftitute  the  gojpel,  Mrv 
Pearce  certainly  did  not  preach  it. — But  if  man,  what- 
ever be  his  depravity,  be  neceflarily  a  free  agent,  and 
accountable  for  all  his  difpofitions  and  anions  ;  if  gof- 
pel  invitations  be  addrefled  to  men  not  as  elect,  nor 
as  non-ele£t, ;  but  as  finners  expofed  to  the  righteous 
difpleafure  of  God  ;  if  Chrift's  obedience  and  death 
rather  increafe,  than  diminifh  our  obligations  to  love 
God  and  one  another  -,  if  faith  in  Chrift  be  a  falling 
in  with  God's  v/ay  of  falvation,  and  unbelief  a  falling 
out  with  it ;  if  fan&ification  be  a  progreflive  work, 
and  fo  eflential  a  branch  of  our  falvation,  as  that  with- 
out it  no  man  {hall  fee  the  Lord  ;  if  the  Holy  Spirit 
inftruft  us  in  nothing  by  his  illuminating  influences 
but  what  was  already  revealed  in  the  fcriptures,  and 
which  we  fhould  have  perceived  but  for  that  we  loved 
darknefs  rather  than  light ;  and  if  he  inclines  us  to 
nothing  but  what  was  antecedently  right,  or  to  fuch  a 
fpirit  as  every  intelligent  creature  ought  at  all  times 
to  have  pofleflcd — then  Mr.  Pearce  did  preach  the 
gofpel  •,  and  that  which  his  accufers  call  by  this  name 
is  another  gofpel r,  and  not  the  gofpel  of  Chrift* 

Moreover,  If  the  do&rine  taught  by  Mr.  Pearce  be 
not  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  that  which  is  taught  by 
the  above  writers  and  their  adherents  be,  it  may  be 
expected  that  the  effects  produced  will  in  iome  degree 
correfpond  with  this  reprefentaticn.  And  is  it  evi- 
dent to  all  men  who  are  acquainted  with  both,  and 
who  judge  impartially,  that  the  doftrine  taught  by 
Mr.  Pearce  is  productive  of  hatred \  variance ',  emula- 
tions,  twrathyfirifey  ratings ',  evil  fur  mifingSy  and  perverfe 
difputings ;  that  it  renders  thofe  who  embrace  it  lovers 
vf  their  own  felves9  covetous ,  boajlerSy  proud yfalfe  acafersy 
fiercey  defpifeis  of  thofe  that  are  good  ;  while  that  of  his 
adverfaries  promotes  lovey  joyy  peacey  long-fujferingy  gen- 
tlenefsy  goodnefsy  faith y  meeknefsy  and  temperance  t  .... 
"WHY   EYEN   OF  YOURSELVES  JUDGE  YE  NOT  WHAT  IS 

RIGHT  ? 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  147 

RIGHT  ?    .    .    .    .    YE    SHALL    KNOW    THEM    EY    THEIR 
FRUITS, 

Mr.  Pearce's  ideas  of  preaching  human  obligation 
may  be  feen  in  the  following  extract  from  a  letter,  ad- 
dreiled  to  a  young  minirter  who  was  fent  out  of  the 
church  of  which  he  was  paftor.  "  You  requeft  my 
thoughts  how  a  ininifter  fhould  preach  human  obliga- 
tion. I  would  reply,  do  it  extenfively,  do  it  conjla?itly  j. 
but  withal,  do  it  affectionately  and  evangelically.  I 
think,  confidering  the  general  character  of  our  hearers* 
and  the  ftate  of  their  mental  improvement,  it  would 
be  time  loft  to  argue  much  from  the  data  of  natural 
religion.  The  belt  way  is,  perhaps,  to  exprefs  duties 
in  fcripture  language,  and  enforce  them  by  evangeli- 
cal motives  •,  as,  the  example  cf  Chrift — the  ends  of 
his  fuffering  and  death — the  confeioufnefc  of  his  ap- 
probation— the  afiiftance  he  has  promifed — the  influ- 
ence of  a  holy  converfation  on  God's  people,  and  on 
the  people  of  the  world — the  fmail  returns  we  at  belt 
can  make  for  the  love  of  Jefus — and  the  hope  of  eter- 
nal holinefs.  Thefe  form  a  body  of  arguments,  which 
the  moil  Gmple  may  understand,  and  the  moft  dull 
may  feel.  Yet  I  would  not  neglect  on  feme  ocafions 
to  lhew  the  obligations  of  man  to  love  his  Creator — 
the  reafonableneis.of  the  divine  law — and  the  natural 
tendency  of  its  commands  to  promote  our  own  com- 
fort, the  good  of  fociety,  and  the  glory  of  God. 
Thefe  will  ferve  to  illuminate,  but,  after  all,  it  is  the 
go/pel  of  the  grace  of  God  that  will  moft  effect  uaiiy  ani~ 
mate,  and  impel  to  action." 

Mr*  Pearce's  affection  to  the  doctrine  of  the  crofs 
was  not  merely  nor  principally  on  account  of  its  being 
a  fyitem  which  fecured  his  own  fafety.  Had  this 
been  the  cafe,  he  might,  like  others,  whofe  religion 
originates  and  terminates  in  felf-love,  have  been  de- 
lighted with  the  idea  of  the  grace  of  the  Son,  but  it 
would  have  been  at  the  expenie  of  all  complacency  in 

the 


148  Memoirs  of  the  late 

the  righteous  government  of  the  Father.  He  might 
have  admired  iome thing  which  he  accounted  the  gof- 
pel,  as  faving  him  from  mifery  ;  but  he  could  have 
clifcerned  no  iovelinefs  in  the  divine  law  as  being  holy, 
juft  and  good,  nor  in  the  mediation  of  Chrift  as  doing 
honour  to  it.  That  which  in  his  view  constituted  the 
glory  of  the  gofpel  was,  that  God  is  therein  revealed 
as  the  juji  God  and  the  Saviour — -jufy  and  the  jufifer  of 
him  that  believeth  in  Jefus*. 

He  was  a  lover  of  good  men. — He  was  never  more  in 
his  element  than  when  joining  wish  them  in  fpiritual 
eonveriation,  prayer  and  praife.  His  heart  was  ten- 
derly attached  to  the  people  of  his  charge  ;  and  it 
was  one  of  the  bittereft  ingredients  in  his  cup  during 
his  long  affliction,  to-  be  cut  off  from  their  fociety. 
When  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Plymouth,  he  thus 
writes  to  Mr.  King,  one  of  the  deacons — "  Give  my 
love  to  all  the  dear  people.  O  pray,  that  He  who 
aflhcTts  would  give  me  patience  to  endure.  Indeed, 
the  ftate  of  fufpenfe  in  which  I  have  been  kept  fo 
long,  requires  much  of  it  \  and  I  often  exclaim  ere  I 
am  aware,  O  my  dear  people  !  O  my  dear  family, 
when  (hall  I  return  to  you  again  !"  He  confcien- 
tioufly  difl'ented  from  the  Church  of  England,  and 
from  every  other  national  eftablifhment  of  religion,  aa 
inconfiftent  with  what  he  judged  the  fcriptural  ac- 
count of  the  nature  of  ChrihYs  kingdom  :  nor  was  he 
iefs  confcientious  in  his  rejection  of  infant  baptifm, 
confidering  it  as  having  no  foundation  in  the  holy 
fcriptures,  and  as  tending  to  confound  the  church  and 
the  world  ;  yet  he  embraced  with  brotherly  affe&ion 
great  numbers  of  godly  men  both  in  and  out  of  the 
eftablifhment.  His  fpirit  was  truly  catholic  :  he  lov- 
ed all  who  loved  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  fincerity. 
«•  Let  us  pray,"  faid  he  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  "  for 
the  peace  of  jerufalem  :  they  flrall  profper  who  love — 

net 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  149 

not  this  part,  or  the  other,  but  who  love — her — that 
is,  the  whole  body  of  Chriit." 

He  bare  good  will  to  all  mankind. — It  was  from  this 
principle  that  he  fo  ardently  defired  to  go  and  preach 
the  gofpel  to  the  heathen.  And  even  under  his  long 
affliction,  when  at  times  he  entertained  hopes  £>f  re-- 
covery,  he  would  fay,  "  My  foul  pants  for  ufefulnefs 
more  extenfive  than  ever  :  I  long  to  become  an  apoftle 
to  the  world  !"  The  errors  and  fins  of  men  wrought 
much  in  him  in  a  way  of  pity.  He  knew  that  they 
were  culpable  in  the  light  of  'God  :  but  he  knew  alfo 
that  he  himfelf  was  a  finner,  and  felt  that  they  were 
entitled  to  his  companion.  His  zeal  for  the  divinity 
and  atonement  cf  his  Saviour,  never  appeared  to  have 
operated  in  a  way  of  unchriftian  bitternefs  againft 
thofe  who  rejected  thefe  important  doclrines  ;  and 
though  he  was  fhanfefully  traduced  by  profeiTors  of 
another  defcription  as  a  mere  legal  preacher,  and  his 
miniftry  held  up  as  affording  no  food  for  the  fouls  of 
believers,  and  could  not  but  feel  the  injury  of  fuch 
mifreprefentations  ;  yet  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
cherifhed  unchriftian  refentment  •,  hut  would  at  any 
time  have  laid  himfelf  out  for  the  good  of  hisVorft 
enemies.  It  was  his  conftant  endeavour  to  promote 
as  good  an  unckrftanding  between  the  different  con- 
gregations in  the  town  as  the  nature  of  their  different 
religious  fentiments  would  admit.  The  cruel  bitter- 
nefs of  many  people  againft  Dr.  Prkftley  and  his 
friends,  at  and  after  the  Birmingham  riots,  was  affect- 
ing to  his  mind.  Such  methods  of  oppofing  error  he 
abhorred.  His  regard  to  mankind  made  him  lament 
the  confequences  of  war  :  but  while  he  wiibed  and 
prayed  for  peace  to  the  nations,  and  efpecially  to  his 
native  country,  he  had  no  idea  of  turbulently  contend- 
ing for  it.  Though  friendly  to  civil  and  religious  lib- 
erty, he  ftood  aloof  from  the  fire  of  political  conten- 
tion*    In  an  excellent  Circular  Letter  to  the  churches 

of 


X50  Memoirs  of  the  late 

of  the  Midland  Aflbciation  in  1 794,  of  which  he  was 
the  writer,  he  thus  exprefles  himfelf — "  Have  as  little 
as  pofiible  to  do  with  the  world.  Meddle  not  with 
political  controverfies.  An  inordinate  purfuit  cf 
thefe,  we  are  forry  to  obferve,  has  been  as  a  canker- 
worm  at  the  root  of  vital  piety  •,  and  caufed  the  love 
of  many,  formerly  zealous  profeflbrs  to  wax  cold. 
The  Lord  reigneth  ;  it  is  our  place  to  rejoice  in  his 
government,  and  quietly  wait  for  the  falvation  of  God. 
The  eftabliihment  of  his  kingdom  will  be  the  ultimate 
end  of  all  thofe  national  commotions  which  terrify 
the  earth.  The  wrath  of  man  (hall  praife  him,  and 
the  remainder  of  wrath  he  will  reftrain."  If  he 
could  write  in  this  manner  in  1 704,  his  feeing  a 
hopeful  undertaking,  in  which  he  had  taken  a  more 
than  common  intereft,  blafted  by  this  fpecies  of  folly 
in  1796,  would  not  leflen  his  averfion  to  it.*  From 
this  time  more  than  ever,  he  turned  his  whole  atten- 
tion to  the  promoting  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  cher- 
ifliing  and  recommending  a .  fpirit  of  contentment  and 
gratitude  for  the  civil  and  religious  advantages  that 
we  enjoyed.  Such  were  the  fentiments  inculcated  in 
the  laft  fermon  that  he  printed,  and  the  laft  but  one 
that  he  preached.f  His  dear  young  friends  who  are 
gone  to  India  will  never  forget  how  earneftly  he 
charged  them  by  letter,  when  confined  at  Plymouth, 
to  conduct  themielves  in  all  civil  matters  as  peaceable 
and  obedient  fubje&s  to  the  government  under  which 
they  lived,,  in  whatever  country  it  might  be  their  let 
to  refide. 

It  was  love  that  tempered  his  faithfulnefs  with  Jo  large 
a  portion  of  tender  concern  for  the  good  of  thofe  whefe  con* 
duel  he  was  obliged  to  cenfure. — He  could  not  bear  them 
that   were  evil,  but  would  fet  himfelf  againft  them 

with 

*  See  Periodical  Accounts  of  the  Baptift  Mifiion,  VoL  1.  p»  257* 
f  Seepage  11^3.  Note. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  151 

with  the  greateft  firmnefs  :  yet  it  were  eafyto^dif- 
cover  the  pain  of  mind  with  which  this  necciiary  part 
of  duty  was  difcharged.  It  is  -well  remembered  how 
he  conducted  himfelf  towards  certain  preachers  in 
the  neighbourhood,  who,  wandering  from  place  to 
place,  corrupted  and  embroiled  the  churches.;  whofe 
conduct  he  knew  to  be  as  dishonourable  as  their  prin- 
ciples were  loofe  and  unfcriptural :  and  when  requeft- 
to  recite  particulars  in  his  own  defence,  his  fear  and 
tenderneis  for  character,  his  modeft  reluctance  to  ac- 
cufe  perfons  older  than  himfelf,  and  his  deep  concern 
that  men  engaged  in  the  Chriftian  miniitry,  fhould 
render  fuch  accufations  neceilary,  were  each  con- 
fpicuous,  and  proved  to  all  prefent,  that  the  work  of 
an  accuier  was. to  him  21  f  range  work. 

It  was  love  that  expanded  his  hearty  and  prompted  him 
to  labour  in  feafon  a  fid  out  of feafon  for  the  faivatim  of  fin- 
tiers. — This  was  the  fpring  of  that  conltant  ftream 
of  activity  by  which  his  life  was  diilinguifhed.  His 
conference  would  net  .fuffer  him  to  decline  what  ap- 
peared to  'be  right.  H  I  dare  not  refufe,  he  would 
fay,  left  I  fhould  fhrink  from  duty.  Unjuftifiable 
cafe  is  worfe  than  the  molt  difficult  labours  to  which 
duty  calls."  To  perfons  who  never  entered  into  his 
views  and  feelings,  fome  parts  of  his  conduct,  efpe- 
cially  thofe  which  relate  to  his  defire  of  quitting  his 
country  that  he  might  preach  the  gofpel  to  the  hea- 
then, will  appear  extravagant  :  but  no  man  could 
with  greater  propriety  have  adopted  the  language  of 
the  apoflle,  Whether  we  be  befide  ourfelves^  it  is  to  God  ^ 
or  'whether  we  be  fiber  ,  it  is  for  your  caufe  ;  fir  the  love 
of  Ckrjjl  cotiflrabieth  us. 

He  was  frequently  told  that  his  exercifes  were  too 
great  for  his  flrength  :  but  fuch  was  the  ardour  of 
his  heart,  "  He  could  not  die  in  a  better  work." 
When  he  went  up  into  the  pulpit  to  deliver  his  laft 

Ceraozt* 


152  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fermon,  he  thought  he  fhoulcl  not  have  been  able  to 
get  through  •,  but  when  he  got  a  little  warm,  he  felt 
relieved,  and  forgot  his  indifpofition,  preaching  with 
equal  fervour  and  freedom  as  when  in  perfect  health. 
While  he  was  laid  afide,  he  could  not  forbear  hoping 
that  he  fhould  fome  time  refume  his  delightful  work  j 
and  knowing  the  ftrength  of  his  feelings  to  be  fuch 
that  it  would  be  unfafe  to  trufi  himfelf,  he  propofed 
for  a  time  to  write  his  difcourfes,  that  his  mind  might 
not  be  at  liberty  to  overdo  his  debilitated  frame. 

All  his  CGunfels,  cautions,  and  reproofs,  appear  to  have 
been  the  effeft  of  love. — It  was  a  rule  dictated  by  his 
heart,  no  lefs  than  by  his  judgment,  to  difcourage  all 
evil  fpeaking  :  nor  would  he  approve  of  juft  cenfure 
unlefs  fome  good  and  necefTary  end  were  to  be  an- 
fwered  by  it.  Two  of  his  diftant  friends  being  at  his 
houfe  together,  one  of  them,  during  the  abfence  of 
the  other,  fuggefted  fomething  to  his  difadvantage. 
He  put  a  ftop  to  the  converfation  by  anfwering,  "  He 
is  here,  take  him  afide,  and  tell  him  of  it  by  himfelf  : 
you  may  do  him  good/' 

If  he  perceived  any  of  his  acquaintance  bewildered 
in  fruitlefs  fpeculations,  he  would  in  an  affectionate 
manner  endeavour  to  dTaw  off  their  attention  from 
thefe  mazes  of  confufion  to  the  fimple  doctrine  of  the 
crofs.  A  fpecimen  of  thvs  kind  of  treatment  will  be 
feen  in  the  letter,  No.  I.  towards  the  cloie  of  this 
chapter. 

He  was.  affectionate  to  all,  but  efpecially  towards 
the  rifing  generation.  The  youth  of  his  own  congre- 
gation, of  London,  and  of  Dublin,  have  not  forgot  his 
melting  difcourfes  which  were  particularly  addreffed 
to  them.  He  took  much  delight  in  fpeaking  to  the 
children,  and  would  adapt  himfelf  to  their  capacities, 
and  expoftuhte  with  them  on  the  things  which  be- 
longed 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ce.  153 

longed  to  their  everlafting  peace.  While  at  Plym- 
outh he  wrote  thus  to  one  of  his  friends,  "  O  how 
fhould  I  rejoice  were  there  a  fpeedy  profpe£l  of  my 
returning  to  my  great  and  little  congregations."  Nor 
was  it  by  preaching  only  that  he  fought  their  eternal 
welfare  :  feveral  of  his  ietters  are  addrefled  to  young 
perfons.  See  No.  II.  and  III.  towards  the  clofe  of  this 
chapter* 

"With  what  jcy  did  he  congratulate  one  of  his  mod 
intimate  friejnds,  on  hearing  that  three  of  the  younger 
branches  of  his  family  had  apparently  been  brought  to 
take  the  Redeemer's  yoke  upon  them.  "  Thanks, 
thanks,  thanks  be  to  God,"  faid  he,  "for  the  enraptur- 
ing profpecls  before  you  as  zfhflfr>  as  zChriftian father 
efpecially.  What,  three  of  a  family  !  and  thefe  three 
at  once  !  O  the  heights,  and  depths,  and  lengths,  and 
breadths  of  his  unfathomable  grace.  My  foul  feels 
joy  unfpeakable  at  the  blefied  news.  Three  immor- 
tal foula  fe cured  for  eternal  life  !  Three  rational  fpirits 
preparing  to  grace  Immanuel's  triumphs,  and  fing  his 
praife  !  Three  examples  of  virtue  and  goodnefs  ;  ex- 
hibiting the  genuine  influences  of  the  true  religion  of 
Jefus  before  the  world — Perhaps  three  mothers  train- 
ing up  to  lead  three  future  families  in  the  way  to 
heaven.  Oh  what  a  train  of  bleflings  do  I  fee  in  this 
event !  Moll  fincereiy  do  I  participate  with  my  dear 
friend,  in  his  pleafures  and  in  his  gratitude." 

Towards  the  clofe  cf  life,  writing  to  the  fame 
friend,  he  thus  concludes  his  letter — "Prefent   our 

love  to  dear  Mrs.  S and   the  family,  efpecially 

thofe  whofe  hearts  are  engaged  to  feek  the  Lord  and 
his  goodnefs.  O  teil  them  they  will  find  him  good 
all  their  lives,  fupremely  gecd  en  dying  beds,  but  beft 
of  all  in  glory." 

In 
O 


154  Memoirs  of  the  late 

In  his  vifits  to  thejich  he  was  fingularly  ufcful.  His 
fympathetic  conversation,  affectionate  prayers,  and  en- 
dearing manner  of  recommending  to  them  a  compaf- 
fionate  Saviour,  frequently  operated  as  a  cordial  to 
their  troubled  hearts.  A  young  man  of  his  congrega- 
tion was  dangeroufly  ill.  His  father  living  at  a  diftance, 
was  anxious  to  hear  from  him  •,  and  Mr.  Pearce,  in  a 
letter  to  the  minifter  on  whole  preaching  the  father 
attended,  wrote  as  follows — "  I  feel  for  the  anxiety  of 

Mr.  V ,  and   am  happy  in  being  at  this  time  a 

Barnabas  to  him.  I  was  not  ferioufly  alarmed  for  his 
fon  till  lad  Tuefday,  when  I  expected  from  every  fymp- 
tom,  and  the  language  of  his  apothecary,  that  he  was 
nigh  unto  death.  But  to  our  aftonifhment  and  joy,  a 
furprifing  change  has  iince  taken  place.  I  faw  him 
yefterday  apparently  in  a  fair  way  for  recovery.  His 
mind,  for  the  firfi  part  of  his  illnefs,  was  fometimes 
joyful,  and  almoft  conftantjy  calm  •,  but  when  at  the 
worft,  fufpicions  crouded  his  mind  ;  he  feared  he  had 
been  an  hypocrite.  I  talked,  and  prayed,  and  wept 
with  him.  One  fcene  was  very  affecting  ;  both  he 
and  his  wife  appeared  like  perfons  newly  awakened. 
They  never  felt  fo  ftrongly  the  importance  of  religion 
before.  He  converfed  about  the  tendernefs  of  Jefur. 
to  broken-hearted  finners  ;  and  whilft  we  fpoke,  it 
feemed  as  though  he  came  and  began  to  heal  the 
Wound.  It  did  me  good,  and  I  truft  not  unavailing 
to  them.  They  have  fince  been  for  the  mod  part 
happy  ;  and  a  very  pleafant  interview  I  had  with  them 
on  the  paft  day." 

Every  man  mud  have  his  feafons  of  relaxation. 
In  his  earlier  years  he  would  take  ftrong  bodily  exer- 
cife.  Of  late,  he  occafionally  employed  himfelf  with 
the  micfofcope,  and  in  making  a  few  philofophical 
experiments.  u  We  will  amufe  ourfelves  with  phi- 
lofophy,"  faid  he  to  a  philofophical  friend,  "  but  jefus 
fhall  be  our  teacher  "     In  all  thefe  exercifes  he  feents 

never 


Mr.  Samuel  P caret.  i£tf 

never  to  have  loft  fight  of  God  •,  but  would  be  dis- 
covering fomcthing  in  his  worts  that  fliould  furnifh 
matter  for  praife  and  admiration.  His  mind  did  riot 
appear  to  have  been  unfitted,  but  rather  aiTifled,  by 
fuch  purfuits  for  the  difcharge  of  the  more  fpiritual 
exercifes,  into  which  he  would  fall  at  a  proper  feafon, 
as  into  his  native  element.  If  in  company  with 
friends,  and  the  converfation  turned  upon  the  works 
of  nature,  or  art,  or  any  other.  fubjeCt  of  fcience,  he 
would  cheerfully  take  a  part  in  it,  and  when  occafion 
required,  by  fome  eafy  and  pleafant  tranfition,  direct 
it  into  another  channel.  Ah  ingenious  friend  once 
fnewed  him  a  model  of  a  machine  which  he  thought 
of  conttructing,  and  by  which  he  hoped  to  be  able  to 
produce  a  perpetual  motion.  Mr.  Pearce  having  pa- 
tiently inipected  it,  difcovered  where  the  operation 
would  Hop,  and  pointed  it  out.  His  friend  was  con- 
vinced, and  felt,  as  may  be  fuppofed,  rather  unpleaf- 
ant  at  his  difappointment.  He  confoled  him  ;  and  a 
prayer-meeting  being  at  hand,  faid  to  this  eff^Ct, 
"  We  may  learn  from  hence  our  own  infufficiency, 
and  the  glory  of  that  Beings  who  is  vusnderful  in  coun- 
Jely  and  excellent  in  working  ;  let  us  go  and  worfhip 
Him." 

His  mild  and  gentle  difpcfition,  not  apt  to  give  or 
take  offence,  often  won  upon  perfons  in  matters 
wherein  at  firft  they  have  fhewn  themfelves  averfe. 
When  collecting  for  the  Baptift  million,  a  gentleman 
who  had  no  knowledge  of  him,  or  of  the  conductors 
of  that  undertaking,  made  fome  objections,  on  the 
ground  that  the  Baptiits  had  little  or  nothing  to  fay 
to  the  unconverted.  This  objection  Mr.  Pearce  at- 
tempted to  remove^  by  alleging  that  the  parties  con- 
cerned in  this  bufmefs  were  entirely  of  another  mind, 
I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  faid  the  gentleman,  but  I  have 
my  fears.  Then  pray,  fir,  faid  Mr.  Pearce,  do  not 
fcive  till  ycu  are  fatisfied.     Why  I  afiure  you,  replied 

the 


1^6  Memoirs  of  the  late 

the  other,  I  think  the  Method Ifts  more  likely  to 
fucceed  than  you  ;  and  fhouM  feel  more  pleafure  In 
giving  them  ten  guineas  than  you  one.  If  you  give 
them  twenty  guineas,  fir,  faid  Mr.  Pearce,  we  ihal! 
rejoice  in  their  fucceis  •,  and  if  you  give  us  one,  I 
hope  it  will  not  be  mifapplied.  The  gentleman 
fnrikd,  and  gave  him  four. 

His  figure  to  a  fuperficial  cbferver  would  at  firft 
fight  convey  nothing  very  interfiling  ^  but  on  clofe 
jnfpe&ion,  his  countenance  would  be  acknowledged 
to  be  a  faithful  index  to  his  foul.  Calm,  placid, 
and,  when  in  the  pulp't  efpecially,  full  of  animation, 
his  appearance  was  not  a  little  cxpreffitfc  of  the  inter- 
eft  he  felt  in  the  eternal  welfare  of  his  audience  •,  his 
eves  beaming  benignity,  and  fpeaking  in  the  mo  ft  im- 

Jive  language  his  willingnefs  to  impart^  not  only  the 
gojpd  :f  Gctiy  but  his  owfi  Jhul  olfo. 

His  imagination  was  vivid,  and  his  judgment  clear  \ 
he  reliflied  the  elegancies  of  fcience,  and  felt  alive  to 
the  moil  delicate  and  refined  fentiments  :  yet  thefe 
were  things  on  account  of  which  he  does  not  appear 
to  have  valued  himfelf.  They  were  rather  his  amufe- 
incuts  than  his  employ  men  t. 
» 

His  atfdrefs  was  eafy  and  infinuating  ;  his  voice 
font,  but  fometimes  cverftrained  in  the  courf. 
his  fermen  \  hts  language  chafte,  flowing,  and  inclin- 
ing to  the  florid  :  this  Iaft,  however,  abated  as  his 
judgment  ripenid.  His  delivery  was  rather  lbw 
than  rapid  •,  his  attitude  graceful,  and  his  counte- 
nance in  aimoft  all  his  diuourfes  approaching  to  an  af- 
fectionate fmile.  He  never  appears,  however,  to  have 
fluched  what  are  called  the  graces  of  pulpit  action  j 
cr,  whatever  he  had  read  concerning  them,  it  was 
manifeft  that  he  thought  nothing  of  them,  cr  of  any 
other  of  the  ornaments  of  fpeech,  at  the  tin*e.    'Both 

his 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearu.  157 

his  a&ion  and  language  were  the  genuine  exprcffions 
of  an  ardent  mind,  affected,  and  fometimes  deeply, 
with  his  fubjedt.  Being  rather  below  the  common 
ftature,  and  difregarding,  or  rather,  I  might  fay,  dis- 
approving every  thing  pompous  in  his  appearance,  he 
has  on  ibme  occaiions  been  prejudged  to  his  difad- 
vantage  :  but  the  fong  of  the  nightingale  is  not  the 
lefs  melodious  for  his  not  appearing  in  a  gaudy  plu- 
mage.    His  manner  of  preparing  for  the  pulpit  may 

be  feen  in  a  letter  addrefied  to  Mr.  C of  L , 

who  was  fent  out  of  his  church  ;  and  which  may  be 
of  ufe  to  others  in  a  fimilar  fituation.  See  No.  IV. 
towards  the  clofe  of  this  chapter. 

His  miniftry  was  highly  acceptable  to  perfons  of 
education  :  but  he  appears  to  have  been  moft  in  his 
element  when  preaching  to  the  poor.  The  feelings 
which  he  himfeif  exprefies  when  inftru&ing  the  col- 
Hers,  appear  to  have  continued  with  him  through  life 
It  was  his  delight  to  carry  the  glad  tidings  of  falva- 
tion  into  the  villages  wherever  he  coild  find  accefs 
and  opportunity.  And  as  he  fought  the  good  of  their 
fouls,  ib  he  both  laboured  and  fufFered  to  relieve  their 
temporal  wants  •,  living  himfdf  in  a  ityle  of  frugality 
and  felf-deniai,  that  he  might  have  whereof  to  give  to 
them  that  needed. 

Finally,  He  pojfejfed a  large  portion  of  real  hnppinefs. — ' 
There  are  few  characters  whofe  ei  joyments,  bcth 
natural  and  fpiritual,  have  rifen  to  fo  great  a  heigLt. 
He  dwelt  in  love  r  and  he  that  dvudleth  in  love  dive/ let  6 
in  God,  and  God  in  him.  Such  a  life  mull  needs  b£ 
happy.  If  his  religion  had  originated  and  terminated 
m  ieff-iovc,  as  fome  contend  the  whole  cf  religion  dees, 
his  jr/s  had  been  not  only  of  a  different  nature,  but 
far  ieis  extenfive  than  they  were.  His  interelt  was 
bound  up  with  that  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour.  Its  af- 
fliction* 


158  Memoirs  of  the  late 

fliftions  weTe  his  affli&ion,  and  its  joys  his  joy.  The 
grand  objeft  of  his  defire  was,  to  fee  the  good  of  God's 
chofen,  to  rejoice  in  the  gladnefs  of  his  nation ,  and  to  glory 
ivith  his  inheritance.  "  What  pleafures  do  thofe  lofe," 
fays  he,  "  who  have  no  intereft  in  God's  gracious 
and  holy  caufe  !"* 

If  an  objeft  of  joy  prefented  itfelf  to  his  mind,  he 
would  delight  in  multiplying  it  by  its  probable  or  pof-? 
fible  confequences.  Thus  it  was,  as  we  have  feen, 
in  his  congratulating  his  friend  on  the  convcrfion  of 
three  of  his  children  ;  nd  thus  it  was  when  fpeaking 
of  a  people  who  divided  into  two  congregations,  not 
from  difcord,  but  from  an  increafe  of  numbers  j  and 
who  generoufly  united  in  erecting  a-  new  and  addU 
tional  place  cf  worihip — "  Thefe  liberal  fouls  are  fub- 
fcribing,"  fa  id  he,  "  in  order  to  fupport  a  religion, 
which,  as  far  as  it  truly  prevails,  will  render  others  as 
liberal  as  themfelves." 

His  heart  was  fo  much  formed  for  focial  enjoyment 
that  he  feems  to  have  contemplated  the  heavenly  ft  ate 
under  this  idea  with  peculiar  advantage.    This  was  the 

Jeading  theme  of  a  difcourfe  from  Rev.,  v.  9 12, 

which' he  delivered  at  a  meeting  of  minifters  at  Arnfr 
by,  April  18*  1797  >  and  of  which  his  brethren  retain 
a  lively  remembrance.  On  this  plcafing  fubjeft  he 
dwells  alfo  in  a  letter  to  his  dear  friend  Birt. — "  I 
had  much  pleafure  a  few  days  fince,  in  meditating  on 
the  "affe&ionate  language  of  our  Lord  to  his  forrowful 
difciples  y  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  Yv'hnt  a 
plenitude  of  confolation  do  thefe  words  contain  -y 
what  a  fweet  view  of  heaven  as  a  place  of  fociety.  It 
is  one  place  for  us  all ;  that  place  where  his  gk  rjfkjd 
tody  is,  there  all  his  followers  mail  af&mble,  to  part 
no  more.  Where  He  is,  there  we  mall  be  alfo.  G!i 
Jrfefled  jfrntiVrpatioh  !   There  fhall  be  Abel,  artel  all  the 

martyrs  5 

•  Stf  tfa  h%\.\\t  to  Tr.  Fyfer.4,  May,  3c,  1796,  p.  6j. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pcarce,  V§$ 

martyrs  j  Abraham,-  and  all  the  •patriarchs  ;  Ifabh, 
and  ail  the  prophets  ♦,  Paul,  arid  all  the  apoltles  \  Ga~ 
briel,  and  all  the-  angel&  %  OncC  above'  ail;  :Jksus,  and. 
all  his ranibmed  people  !  Oh,  to  be  amongii  the  num- 
ber i  My  dear  brother,  let  us  be  ftrong  in  the  Lord. 
Let  us  realize  the  biifs  before  us.  Let  our  faith  bring 
i*ea*vea  itfrlf  near,  and  feaft,  and  iive  upon  the  ieenel 
Oh  what  a  commanding  influence  would  it  have  upoa 
our  thoughts, .pa  JloriS)  comforts,  forrows,  words,  mm- 
iftry,  prayers,  praifes,  and  conduit.  What -manner 
of  perfons  fiiould  we  be  in  ?J1  holy  converfation  and 
godlinefo  P 

In  many- serfons,  the  pleafures  imparted  by  rehg-* 
ion  are  counteracted  by  a  gloomy  co'nftitutiori  :  bat 
it  was  not  fo  in  him.  In  his  difpofition  they  met 
with  a  friendly  foih  Cheerfuinefs  was  as  natural  to 
him  as  breathing  ;  and  this  fpirit,.fan£rified  by  the 
grace  of  God,  gave  a  tincture  to  all  his  thoughts-, 
converfation ,  and  preaching.  He  wr.s  feldom  heard: 
without  tears  >  but  they,  were  frequent y  tears-  of 
pleafure.  No  levity,  no  attempts  nt  wit,  no  aiming, 
to  excite  the  rifibility  of  an  audience,  ever  dilgraceil 
hii  fermons.  Religion  in  him  was  habitual  -feriouf- 
nels,  mingled  with  facred  pleafure,  frequently  rih*ng 
into  fublime  delight,  and  occasionally  overflowing 
with  transposing  joy, 


LETTERS 


*6q  Memoirs  cf  the  latt 

LETTERS 

..REFERRED  TO  IN  THIS  CHAPTER^ 

No.  L 

51?  a  ycung  man  ijhofe  mind  he  .perceived  ivas  bewildered 
iviib  j  ruitlefs  f peculations* 

1  HE  converfation  we  Bad'  on  our  way 

to  . fo  far  interefted  me  in  your  religious  feelings* 

that  1  find  it  impoflible  to  fctisfy  my  mind,  till  I  have 
cxpreiTed  my  ardent  wiihes  for  the  happy,  termination 
of  your  late  exercifes,  and  contributed  my  mite  to- 
die  promotion  of  your  joy  in;  the  Lord.  A  difpofition 
more  or  iefs  to  ".  fk^  pticifrn**  I  believe  is  common  to 
cur  naturt,  in  proportion  as  cppofite  fyftems  and  jar- 
ring opinions,  each  Supported  by  a  piaufibiiity  of  ar- 
gumentA  are  prcfented  to  our  mine's:  and  with  fome 
qualification  I  admit  Robinfon's  remark*  "  That  he 
who  never  doubted  never  believed."  While  examin- 
ing the  grounds  cf  perfuafion,  it  is  right  for  the  mind 
to  hefitate.  Opinions  ought  not  to  be  prejudged 
any  more  than  criminals,  livery  objection  ought  to. 
have  its  weight  \  and  the  more  numerous  and  forci- 
ble o&jettions  are,  the  more  c.iufe  mall  we  finally. 
have  for  the  triumph,.  i  Magna  eft  verity s  &  pre- 
vakbit  *,'  but  there  are  two  or  three  confiderations, 
which  haye  x\o  fmali  weight  with  me  in  relation  to 
religious  cbntrbver-fies.. 

"The  firft  is,  The  importance  of  truth.  It  woulcT 
be  endlefs-to  write  en  truth  in  general.  I  confine  my 
views  to  what!  I  deem  the  leading  truth  in  the  New 
Trftament, — The  atonement  mr.de  en  behalf  offinners  by 
ike  Sjn  of  God ;  the  doctrine  of  the  Crofs  ,-•  Jefta  ChrijT 
and  bun  crucified*     It  furely  cannot  be  a  matter  of  f;  tall 

concern 


Mr.  Samuel  Scarce.  \  6 1 

concern  whether  the  Creator  of  all  things,  out  of  mere 
love  to  rebellious  men,  exchanged  a  throne  for  a  erofs^ 
and  thereby  reconciled  a  ruined  world  to  God.  If 
this  be  not  true,  how  can  we  refpe£t  the  bible  "as  an 
infpired  book,  which  fo  plainly  attributes  our  falvation 
to  the  grace  of  God,  through  the  redemption  iihich  is  in 
Cbri/l  Jefus  ?  And  if  we  dffcard  the  bible,  what  can 
we  do  with  prophecies,  miracles*  and  all  the  power  of 
evidence  on  which,  as  en  adamantine  pillars,  its  au- 
thority abides  r  Surely  the  infidel  has  more  to  rejjefl 
than  the  believer  to  embrace..  That  book,  then,  which 
we  receive,  not  as  the  word  of  man,  but  as  the  word 
of  God,  not  as  the  religion  of  cur  anceflors,  but  on  the 
invincible  conviction  which  attends  an  impartial  ir 
ligation  of  its  evidences  j  that  book  reveals  a  trurh  of 
the  higheft  importance  to  man,  confonant  to  the  opin- 
ions of  the  earlielt  ages,  and  the  mod  enlightened  taa- 
tiens,  perfectly  confident  with  the  Jewith  economy. 
as  to  its  fpirit  and  defign,  altogether  adapted  to  unit;* 
the  equitable  and  merciful  perfections  of  the  Deity  in* 
the  Tinner's  falvation,  and  above  ail  things  calculated 
to  beget  the  moil  eftahlifhed  peace,  to  irrfpire  with  the 
livelieft  hope,  and  to  engage  the  hA  life  in  ha- 

bitual devotednefs  to  the  mUreft  of  m  h!  piety* 

Such  a  doftrine  I  cannot  but  venerate  ,  and  to  the  Au- 
thor of  fuch  a  doftrine,  my  whole  icul  labours  to  ex- 
hauil  itfjlf  ill  praiie.. 

*  Ch  the  fwect  wonders  off  &he  Croft, 

Where  God  my  .  aviour  LvU  and  dy*d  !  * 

forgive,  my  friend,  forgive  the  tranfport  of  a  foul  com- 
pelled to  feci  where  it  attempts  only  to  explore.  I  can- 
not on  this  fubjed  control  my  paflzons  by  the  laws  of 
logic..  God  fori/ J  that  Ijhoitlci  glory >>fave  in  the  Crofs  of 
Chr'ijl  J  ejus  wy  Lord  I 

«  Secondly,  I  confider  man  as  a  depraved  creature ; 
£b  depraved,  that  hisjudgrne'nt  is  as  darXas  his  apgetnea 


1 62  .Memoirs  of  the  late 

are  fenfual  \  wholly  dependent  therefore  on  God  : 
religious  light,  as  well  as  true  devotion  :  yet  fuch  a 
dupe  to  pride,  as  to  reject  every  thing,  which  the  nar- 
row limits  of  his  comprehenfion  cannot  embrace  *,  and 
fuch  a  flave  t3  his  pailions,  as  to  admit  no  law  but 
feii-intereft  for  his  government.  With  thefe  views  of 
human  nature,  I  am  perfuaded  we  ought  to  fufpedt 
our  own  dccifions  -whenever  they  cppofe  truths  too  fub- 
lime  fojr  our  underftandings,  or  too  pure  for  our  lulls. 
•To  err*  on  this  fide,  indeed,  c  is  human  >*  wherefore 
the  wife  man  faith,  4  He  that  trufteth  to  his  own  heart 
is  a  fool/  Should,  therefore,  the  evidence  be  only 
equal  on  the  fide  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  I  fhould 
think,  with  this  allowance^  we  fhould  do  well  to  ad- 
mit it. 

«  Thirdly,  If  the  gofpd  of  Chrift  be  true,  it  mould 
be  heartily  embraced.  We  (hould  yield  ourfelves  to 
its  influence  without  referve.  W«  mull  come  to  a 
point,  and  lefolve  to  be  either  infidels,  or  Chriftians. 
To  know  the  power  of  the  fun,  we  fhould  expofe  our- 
(felves  to  his  rays  5  to  know  the  fweetnefs  of  honey, 
we  mufl  bring  it  to  our  palates.  Speculations  v/iil  not 
do  in  either  of  thefe  cafes  ;  much  lefs  will  it  in  matters 
of  religion.      Mj  Sony  faith  God,  give  me  thine  heart  ! 

u  Fourthly,  A  humble  admifEcn  of  the  light  we  al- 
ready have,  is  the  mod  effectual  way  to  a  full  convic- 
tion of  the  truth  of  t  re  doctrine  of  Chrift.  If  any  mart 
will  DO  his  ivill,  he  Jhcdl  know  of  his  dotlrine  'whether  it 
be  cf  God.  If  we  honour  God  as  far  as  we  know  hi$ 
wiilj  he  will  honour  us  with  further  difcoveries  of  it. 
Thus  fhail  we  know,  if  we  follow  on  to  knew  the 
Lord  ;  thus,  thus  fhalj  you,  my  dear  friend,  become 
afmred  that  there,  is  fal-vation  in  no  other  name  than 
that  cf  Jefus  Chrift  *,  and  thus  from  an  inward  expe- 
rience of  the  quickening  influences  cf  h's  Holy  Spirit, 
you  will  joi:i  the  admiring  church,  and  fay  of  Jefus* 

•This 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ce.  i6t 


a 


*This  is  my  beloved,  this  is  my  friend;  he  is  the 
chiefeft  among  ten  thoufand,  he  is  altogether  lovely.' 
Yes,  I  yet  hope,  I  expect  to  foe  you  rejoicing  in  Chrift 
Jeftis ;  and  appearing  as  a  living  wintfs  that  he  is 
faithful  who  hath  faid,  <  .Seek  and  ye  fhaii  find  ♦,  afk 
and  receive,  that  your  joy  may  be  full.' 

-*«0*S>* 

In  another  letter  to  the  fame  correfpondent,  after 
-congratulating  himfelf  that  he  had  difcovered  fuch  a 
mode  of  killing  noxious  infers  as  fbould  put  them  to 
the  leaft  pain,  and  which  was  character!  ftic  of  the  ten- 
-dernefs  of  his  heart,  he  proceeds  as  follows  : — "  But 
enough  of  nature  :  how  is  my  brother  as  a  Chnjlum  ? 
We  have  had  fome  interesting  moments  in  converfa- 
tion  on  the  methods  of  grace,  that  grace  whole  influ- 
ence reaches  to  the  day  of  adverfity,  and  the  hour  of 
death  ;  feafons  when,  of  every  thing  befide  it  may  be 
faid,  Miferable  comforters  are  they  all  !  My  dear 
friend,  we  will  amufe  ourfeives  with  philofophy,  but 
Chrift  fhall  be  cur  teacher  \  Chrift  fnall  be  our  glory  ; 
Chrift  fhall  be  our  portion.  Oh  that  we  may  be  ena- 
bled *  to  comprehend  the  heights,  and  depths,  and 
lengths,  and  breadths,  and  to  know  the  love  of  Chrift 
which  paffeth  knowledge  !' 

Affectionately  yours, 

S.  P." 


164  Memoirs'  of  tbv  Lite 


No.  II, 

To  a  you?;7  gentltman  of  his  rxquaintance^  iiko  was  then 
Jiudying  phvfic  at  Edinburgh. 

JJlD  my  dear  friend  P know  with  what 

fincere  aff:  clion,  and  ferious  concern,  I  a'lmoii  daily 
think  cf  him,  he  would  need  no  other  evidence  of  the 
effect  which  his  laft  vifit,  ancf  hisiubfequent  letters  have 
produced.  Indeed  there  is  not  a  young  man  in  the 
world,  in  earlier  life  than  myfelf,  for  whofe  univerfal 
profperity  I  am  -fo  deeply  interefted.  Many  circum- 
itances  I  can  trace,  on  a  review  of  the  pad  fourteen 
years,  which  have  contributed  to  beget  and  augment 
affeclion  and  efteem  :  and  I  can  affure  you  that  every 
interview^  and  every  !e::er,  (till  tend  to  confolidate  rny 
regard. 

cc  Happy  iliculd  I  be,  if  my  ability  to  ferve  you  at 
tlils  important  crifis  of  human  life  were  equal  to  your 
willies,  or  my  own.  Your  fituation  demands  all  the 
aid,  which  the  wifdom  and  prudence  of  your  friends 
can  afford,  that  you  may  be  direfted  not  only  to  the 
moil  worihy  objefts  of  purfuit,  but  alio  to  the  moil 
effectual  means  for  obtaining  them.  In  your  prcfef- 
fional  character  it  is  impoflible  for  me  to  give  you  any 
afliflance.  If  any  general  bbfrrvations  I  can  make 
fhould  prove  at  all  uteful,  I  mail  be  richly  rewarded  for 
the  time  I  employ  in  their  communication. 

"  I  thank  you  finccrely  for  the  freedom  wherewith 
you  have  difclofed  the  peculiarities  of  your  fituation, 
and  the  views  and  refylutions  wherewith  they  have  in- 
spired you.  I  can  recommend  nothing  better,  my  dear 
friend,  than  a  determined  adherence  to  the  purpofes  yen 
have  aiready  formed,   refpecting  the  intimacies  you 

cortr-edl. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear re.  165 

contract,  and  the  aflbciates  you  choofe.  In  fuch  a 
place  as  Edinburgh,  it  may  be  fuppofed,  no  defcription 
of  perfcns  will  be  wanting.  Some  fo  notoriously  vi- 
cious, that  their  atrocity  of  character  will  have  no  fmall 
tendency  to  confirm  your  morals,  from  the  odious  con- 
trad  which  their  practices  prefent  to  your  view. 
Againft  thefe,  therefore,  I  need  not  caution  you.  You 
wiil  flee  them  as  fo  many  ferpents,  in  whole  breath  is 
venom  and  deft  ruction.  More  danger  may  be  appre- 
hended from  thofe  mixed  characters,  who  blend  the 
profefiion  of  philofophical  refinement  with  the  fecret 
indulgence  of  thofe  fenfual  gratifications,  which  at  once 
exhauft  the  pocket,  deftroy  the  health,  and  debafe  the 
character. 

"  That  morality  is  friendly  to  individual  happinefs, 
and  to  focial  order,  no  man,  who  refpects  his  own  con- 
fcience,  or  character,  will  have  the  effrontery  to  deny. 
Its  avenues  cannot,  therefore,  be  too  facredly  guarded, 
nor  thofe  principles  which  fupport  a  virtuous  practice 
be  too  ferioufly  maintained.  But  morality  derives,  it 
is  true,  its  beft,  its  only  fupport,  from  the  principles  of 
religion.  'The  fear  of  the  Lord  (faid  the  wife  man) 
is  to  hate  evil.'  He,  therefore,  who  endeavours  to  weak- 
en the  fandtions  of  religion,  to  induce  a  (keptical  habit, 
to  detach  my  thoughts  from  an  ever  prefent  God,  and 
my  hopes  from  a  futurity  of  holy  enjoyment,  he  is  a 
worfe  enemy  than  the  man  that  meets  me  with  the  pif- 
tol  and  the  dagger.  Should  my  dear  friend,  then,  fall 
into  the  company  of  thofe,  whofe  friendfhip  cannot  be 
purchafed  but  by  the  facrifice  of  Revelation,  I  hope  he 
will  ever  think  fuch  a  price  too  great  for  the  good  opin- 
ion of  men  who  blafpheme  piety,  and  diili^nour  God. 
Deifm  is  indeed  the  fafhion  of  the  day  •,  and  to  be  in  the 
mode,  you  muft  quit  the  good  old  path  of  devotion 
as  too  antiquated  for  any  but  monks  and  hermits  ^  fo 
as  you  laugh  at  religion,  that  is  enough  to  fecure  to  you 

the 
P    * 


1 66  Memoirs  of  the  late 

tlie  company,  and  the  applaufe,  of  the  fons  of  polite- 
jtofife.  Oh  that  God  may  be  a  buckler  and  a  (hield 
to  defend  you  from  their  aiTaults  !  Let  but  their  pri- 
vate morals  be  inquired  into,  and  if  they  may  have  a 
hearing,  I  dare  engage  they  will  not  bear  a  favourable 
teftimony  to  the  good  tendency  of  fkepticifm  ;  and  it 
may  be  regarded  as  an  indifputable  axiom,  That  what 
re  unfriendly  to  virtue  is  unfriendly  to  man, 

"  Were  I  to  argue  a  pofleriori  in  favour  of  truth,  I 
Jhould  contend  that  thcfe  principles  rnuft  be  true* 
which  (firft)  correfponded  with  general  obfervation — 
(fecondly)  tended  to  general  hap pinefs— (thirdly)  pre- 
served a  uniform  connexion  between  caufe  and  effedt, 
evi±>and  remedy,  in  all  fituations. 

u  I  would  then  apply  thefe  data  to  the  principles 
held  on  the  one  fide,  by  the  deifts  ;  and  on  the  other, 
by  the  believers  in  revelation.  In  the  application  of 
the  JirJIy  I  would  refer  to  the  ftate  of  human  nature. 
The  deifl  contends  for  its  purity,  and  powers.  Rev- 
elation declares  its  depravity,  and  weaknefs.  I  com- 
pare thefe  oppofite  declarations  with  the  fa£ls  that  fall 
under  conftant  obfervation.  Do  I  not  fee  that  there 
is  a  larger  portion  of  vice  in  the  world,  than  of  virtue  ; 
that  no  man  needs  folicitation  to  cvii,  but  every  man 
ti  guard  againfl  it ;  and  that  thoufands  bewail  their  fub- 
jeftion  to  lufts,  wliich  they  have  not  power  to  fubdue, 
whilft  they  live  in  moral  flavery,  and  cannot  burft  the 
chain  ?  Which  principle  then  mall  I  admit  ?  Will  ob- 
fervation countenance  the  deifilcal  ?  I  am  convinced  to 
the  contrary,  and  mufb  fay,  I  cannot  be  a  deifl  without 
becoming  a  fool  \  and  to  exalt  my  reafon,  I  muft  de- 
ny my  fenfes. 

<c  I  take  the  fecend  datum,  and  inquire,  which  tends 
moft  to  general  happinefs  ?  To  fecure  happinefs,  three 
things  are  neceirary  : — objeEty  me^m,  and  motives.     The 

cueftiort 


M r.  Samuel  Pearce.  1 6y 

queftion  is, — Which  points  out  the  truefcurcc  of  hap- 
pinefs;  whicli  dire&s  to  the  befi  means  for  attaining 
it ;  and  which  furnifihes  me  with  the  nioit  powerful  mo- 
tives to  induce  my  purfuit  of  it  ?  If  I  take  a  deift  for 
my  tutor,  he  tells  me  that  fame  is  the  objeel  \  univerfal 
accommodation  of  manners  to  intertfr^  the ;  means  ;  and 
feiflove  the  fpring  of  aftion.  Sordid  teacher  !.  From 
him  I  turn  to  Jefus.  His  better  voice  informs  me,  that 
the  fource  of  felicity  is  the  friend/hip  of  my  Gcd  \  that 
love  to  my  Maker >  and  love  to  inan>  exprefled  in  all  the 
noble  and  amiable  erTufions  of  devotion  and  benevo- 
lence, are  the  means  ;  and  that  the  glory  ofGod}  and  il:c 
happinefs  cf  the  univerfe^  muft  be  my  motives,  Blcn^l 
Initructor,  thy  dictates  approve  themfelves  to  every 
illuminated  confeience,  to  every  pious  heart  !  Do  they 
not,  my  dear  F ,  approve  themfelves  to  yours  ? 

"But  I  will  not  tire  your  patience  by  purfuin^ 
thefe  remarks.  Little  did  I  think  of  fuch  amplifica- 
tion when  I  firft  took  up  my  pen.  Oh  that  I  may 
have  the  joy  of  finding  that  thefe  (at  leaft  well  meant) 
endeavours  to  eftablifh  your  piety  have  not  been  un- 
graciouily  received,  nor  wholly  unprofitable  to  your 
mind  !  I  am  encouraged  to  thefe  errufions  of  friend- 
fhip  by  that  amiable  felfdifinfl  which  your  letter  ex- 
prelTcs  ;  a  temper  not  only  becoming  the  earlier  ft  ages 
of  life,  but  graceful  In  all  its  advancing  periods. 

"  Unfpeakable  {,  I  1  me  to  find 

that  you  are  confeious  ot  the  r.e  ceffity  of  \  firft'  icek- 
ing  affiftance  from  heaven.  Retain,  my  dear  friend, 
this  honourable,  this  equitable  fentiment.  *  In  all 
thy  ways  acknowledge  God,  and  he  lhall  direct  thy* 
paths.' 

"  I  hope  you  will  ftill  be  cautious  in  your  inti- 
macies* You  will  gain  more  by  a  half-hour's  inter- 
co'urfe  with  God^  than  the  friendihip  of  the  v/holc  coh. 

kge 


1 68  Memoirs  of  the  late 

-lege  can  impart.  Too  much  acquaintance  would  be 
followed  with  a  wafte  of  that  precious  time,  on  the 
prefent  improvement  of  which,  your  future  ufefulnefs 
and  refpeclability  in  your  profeflion  depend.  Like 
the  bee;  you  may  do  beft  by  fipping  the  fweets  of  ev- 
ery flower  j  but  remember,  the  fweeteft  bloflbm  is  not 
the  l.'ve, 

Yours  very  affectionately, 

S.  P." 

•J  P.  S«.  So  many  books  have  been  publiflied  on  the 
fame  fubjeft  as  the  taanufcript  you  helped  me  to  copy, 
that  I  have  not  ferit  it  to  the  prefs."* 


No.  III. 

To  a  young  Lady  atfehod,  Mifs  A.  H.  a  daughter  of on$ 
of  the  members  of  his  Church, 

"  I  CANNOT  deny  myfelf  the  pleafure, 
which  this  opportunity  affords  me,  of  exprefling  the 
concern  I  feel  for  your  happinefs,  arifing  from  the  fin- 
cereft  friendfhip  •,  a  friendfhip,  which  the  many  amia- 
ble qualities  you  poffefs,  together  with  the  innumer- 
able opportunities  I  have  had  of  feeing  them  difplayed, 
have  taught  me  to  form  and  perpetuate. 

"  It  affords  me  inexpreflible  pleafure  to  hear,  that 
you  are  fo  happy  in  your  prefent  fituation  :  a  fituation 
in  which  I  rejoice  to  fee  you  placed,  becaufe  it  is  not 

merely 

•  The 'compiler  believes  this  was  an  anfwer  to  Mr.  Peter  Edward** 
CarJid  Re.ifons,  &V.  He  knows  Mr.  Pearce  did  write  an  anfwer  to 
that  performance.  '  "By  the  effrontery  of  the  write*  he  has  acknowl- 
edged he  was  at  firft  a  little  ftunned  ;  hut  upon  examining  his  argu- 
ments, found  it  no  very  difficult  undertaking  ro  point  out  their  fallacy. 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  1 69 

merely  calculated  to  embellifh  the  manners,  but  to 
profit  the  foul.  I  hope  that  my  dear  Ann,  amidft  the 
various  purfuits  of  an  ornamental  or  fcientific  nature 
which  ihe  may  adopt,  will  not  emit  that  firft,  that 
great  concern,  The  dedication  of  her  heart  to  Goci. 
To  this,  my  dear  girl,  every  thing  invites  you  that  is 
worthy  of  your  attention.  The  dignity  of  a  ration?! 
arid  immortal  foul,  the  condition  of  human  nature,  the 
gracious  truths  and  promifes  of  God,  the  fweetnefs 
and  Ufefulnefs  of  religion,  the  comfort  it  yields  in  af- 
fliction, the  iecurity  it  affords  in  temptation,  the  fup- 
ports  it  gives  in  death,  and  the  profpefts  it  opens  of 
life  everlaiiing  ,  all  thefe  confederations,  backed  with 
the  uncertainty  of  life,  the  folemnity  of  judgment,  the 
terrors  of  hell,  and  the  calls  of  confeience  and  of  God, 
— all  demand  your  heart  for  the  Bleffed  Jehovah.  This, 
and  nothing  fhort  of  this,  is  true  religion.  You  have 
often  heard,  and  often  Svritten  on  religion  :  it  is  time 
you  fhculd  fell  it  now.  Oh  what  a  blelTednefs  will 
attend  your  hearty  furrender  of  yourfelf  to  the  God 
and  Father  of  men  !  Me  thinks  I  fee  all  the  angels  of 
God  rejoicing  at  the  fight,  all  the  faints  m  heaven  par- 
taking of  their  joy;  Jefus  himfeif,  who  died  for  fin- 
ners,  gazing  on  you  with  delight ;  your  own  heart  fill- 
ed with  peace  and  joy  in  believing;  and  a  thcuiand 
ftreams  of  goodnefs  flowing  from  your  renovated  feu  I 
to  refrefh  the  aged  faint,  and  to  encourage  your  fellow- 
youth  to  feek  firft  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  prefs 
on  to  God.  But  Oh,  fhould  I  be  miilaken  !  Alas,  alas, 
I  cannot  bear  the  thought.  Oh  thou  Saviour  of  fin- 
ners,  and  God  of  love  !  take  captive  the  heart  of  my 
dear  young  friend,  and  make  her  truly  willing  to  be 
wholly  thine  f 

"  If  you  can  find  freedom,  do  oblige  me  with  a  let- 
ter on  the  (late  of  religion  in  your  own  foul,  and  be  af- 
fur  Jd  of  every  fympathy  or  advice  that  I  am  capable 
of  feeling  or  giving. 

Affectionately  vours, 
P  %  S.  P, 


i/°  Memoirs  of  tffe  late 


No.  IV, 

To  a  young  Minijler,  Mr.  C ,  of  L ,  on  prep- 
aration for  the  pulpit* 

"  My  dear  brother, 

I  OUR  firft  letter  gave  me  much  pleas- 
ure. I  hoped  you  would  learn  fome  ufeful  leflbn 
from  the  firft  Sabbath's  difappointment.  Every  thing 
is  good  that  leads  us  to  depend  more  fimply  on  the 
Lord.  Could  I  choofe  my  frames,  I  would  fay  re- 
fpe&ing  induftry  in  preparation  for  public  work,  as 
is  frequently  faid  refpefting  Chriflian  obedience  ;  I 
would  apply  as  clofe  as  though  I  expected  no  help 
from  the  Lord,  whilft  I  would  depend  on  the  Lord 
for  afliftance,  as  though  I  had  never  made  any  prep- 
aration at  all. 

<c  I  rejoice  much  in  every  thing  that  affords  you 
ground  for  folid  pleafure.  The  account  of  the  affec- 
tion borne  you  by  the  people  of  God,  was  therefore  a 
matter  of  joy  to  my  heart,  efpecialiy  as  I  learnt  from 
the  perfon  who  brought  your  letter,  that  the  friend- 
ihip  feemed  pretty  general. 

«  Your  laft  has  occafioned  me  fome  pain  on  your 
account,  becaufe  it  informs  me  that  you  have  been 
«  exceedingly  tried  in  the  pulpit;'  but  I, receive  fatis- 
fadtbn  again  from  confidering,  that  the  gloom  of  mid- 
night precedes  the  rifing  day,  not  only  in  the  natural 
world,  but  frequently  alfo  in  the  Chriftian  minifter's 
experience.  D  j  not  be  difcouraged,  my  dear  brother  : 
thofe  whofe  labours  God  has  been  pleafed  mod  emi- 
nently to  blefs,  have  generally  had  their  days  of  prof- 
perity  uiliered  in  with  clouds  and  iiorms.  You  are 
in  the  fieve  }  but  the  neve  is  in  our  Saviour's  hands.; 
aad  he  will  not  fuffcr.  any  thing  .but  the  chaff  to  fall 

through, 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  171 

through,  let  him  winnow  us  as  often  as  he  may.  No 
one  at  times,  I  think  I  may  fay,  has  been  worfe  tried 
than  myfelf,  in  the  fame  manner  as  you  exprefa  ; 
though  I  muit  be  thankful  it  has  not  been  often. 

«  You  afk  direction  of  me,  my  dear  brother.  I 
am  too  inexperienced  myfelf  to  be  capable  of  direct- 
ing others  ;  yet  if  the  little  time  I  have  been  employ- 
ed for  God  has  furnhhed  me  with  any  thing  worthy 
of  communication,  it  will  be  imparted  to  no  one  widi 
more  readi  11  to  you. 

"  I  mould  advlfe  you  when  you  have  been  diitrefP 
ed  by  helitation,  to  reflect  whether  it  arofe  from  an 
inability  to  recollect  your  ideas,  or  to  obtain  words 
fuited  to  convey  them.  If  the  former,  I  think  thefe 
two  directions  may  be  ferviceable  :  Firft,  Endeavour 
to  think  in  a  train.  Let  one  idea  depend  upon  another 
in  your  difcourfes,  as  one  link  does  upon  another  in  a 
chain.  For  this  end  I  have  found  it  neceiTary  to  ar- 
range my  fubjects  in  the  order  of  time.  Thus,  for. 
inftance, — If  (peaking  of  the  promifes,  I  would  begin 
with  thofe  which  were  fuited  to  the  earlieit  inquiries 
of  a  convinced  fcui  *,  as,  pardon,  afliftance  in  prayer, 
wifdom,  &c.  ;  then  go  to  thofe  parts  of  Chriftian  ex- 
perience which  are  uiuaiiy  fub-fetrutnt  to  the  former  ; 
as,  promiks  of  fupport  in  arThchors,  deliverance  from 
temptations,  and  perfeverance  in  grace  ;  clofmg  with 
a  review  of  thofe  which  fpeak  of  fupport  in  death, 
and  final  glory.  Then  all  the  varieties  of  defcription 
reflecting  the  glory  of  heaven  will  follow  in  natural 
order  •,  as,  the  enlargement  of  the  underftanding,  puri- 
fication of  the  affections,  intercourse  with  faintb,  an- 
gels, and  Ghrift  himfclf,  which  will  be  eternal ;  thus 
beginning  with  the  loweft  marks  of  grace,  am: 
cending  iiep  by  ftep,  you  at  laft  arrive  in  the  (Tuition 
of  faith.  This  mode  is  moil  natural,  and  mcit  pleat- 
ing to  the  hearers,  as  well  as  affifting  to  the  preacher  : 

for 


iyz  M avoirs  cf  the  late 

for  one  idea  gives  birth  to  another,  and  he  can  Fiarctty 
help  going  forward  regularly  and  eafily. 

"  Secondly,  Labour  to  render  your  ideas  tratfpcrent 
to  ycurfeff.  Never  offer  to  introduce  a  thought,  which 
you  cannot  fee  through  before  you  enter  the  puJpit. — 
You  have  read  in  C/aude,  that  the  belt  preparative  to 
preach  from  a  fubjett,  is  to  undcrltand  it  :  and  I 
think  Bifhop  Burnet  fays,  No  man  properly  under- 
ftands  any  thing,  who  cannot  at  any  time  rtprefent  it 
to  others * 

"  If  your  hesitation  proceeds  from  a  want  of  words, 
I  {hould  advife  ycu — i.  To  read  good  and  ecfy  authors  z 
Dr.  Watts  efpeciaily. — 2.  To  n.v rite  a  great  pari  of  your 
firmans,  and  for  a  while  get  at  leaft:  the  leading  ideas 
of  every  head  cf  difecurfe  by  heart,  enlarging  only  at 
the  dole  cf  every  thought. — 3*  Sometimes,  as  in  the 
end  of  fermons,  or  when  you  preach  in  villages,  jlart 
off  in  prccrbivg  leyend  a!!  ycu  have  prtnutiltated.  Fallen 
cn  fome  leading  ideas  ;  as,  the  folemnity  of  death,  the 
awfulnefs  of  judgment,  the  neceflity  of  a  change  of 
heart,  the  willingnefs  of  Chrift  to  fare,  &c,  Never 
rriind  how  far  you  ramble  from  the  point,  fo  as  ycu 
do  not  lofe  fight  of  it  ;  and  if  your  heart  be  any  way 
warm,  you  will  find  fome  expreffions  then  fall  from 
your  lips,  which  your  imagination  could  not  produce 
in  an  age  of  ftudious  application. — 4.  Divejt  yourfilf 
$f a// fear.  If  you  fhould  break  the  rules  of  grammar, 
or  put  in,  or  kave  out  a  word,  and  recollect,  at  the 
end  of  the  fentenee  the  impropriety  -y  unlefs  it  makes 
nonfenfe,  er  bad  divinity,  never  try  to  mend  it,  but 
kt  it  pafs.  If  fo,  perhaps  only  a  few  would  notice  it  * 
but  if  you  ftamrner  in  trying  to  mend  it,  you  willex~ 
pcfe  ycurfelf  to  all  the  congregation. 

w  In  addition  to  all  I  have  find,  you  know  where  to 
look,  and  from  whom  to  feek  that  wiiilom  and  flrength 

which 


Mr.   Samuel  Pearce.  173 

which  only  God  can  give.  T°  h*m  I  recommend  you, 
my  dear  brother,  alluring  you  of  my  real  efteem  for 
you,  and  requeuing  you  will  not  fail  to  pray  for  the 
lea  it  of  faints,  but 


Yours  affectionately, 


S.  P." 


A    MORNING    SONG, 

u  GOD  oFour  lives,  our  morning  Tongs 

To  thee  we  cheerful  raife  ; 
lihy  acls  of  love  'tis  good  to  fing, 

And  pleafant  'tis  to  praife. 

Guardian  of  man,  thy  wakeful  eyes, 
Nor  fleep,  nor  {lumber  know  : 

Thine  eyes  pierce  through  the  fhades  of  night. 
Intent  on  ail  below. 

Suftain'd  by  thee,  our  op'ning  eyes 

Salute  the  morning  light ; 
Secure  I  (land,  unhurt  by  all 

The  arrows  of  the  night. 

My  life  renewVi,  my  itrength  repaired, 

To  thee,  my  God.  is  due  ; 
Teach  me  thy  ways,  and  give  me  grace 

My  duty  to  purfue. 

From  ev'ry  evil  me  defend, 

But  guard  me  moil  from  fin  ; 
Direct  my  going  out,  Oh  Lord, 

And  biefs  my  coming  in  ! 


Oh 


1 74  Memoirs  cf  the  late 

Oh  may  thy  holy  fear  command 

Each  adtion,  thought,  and  word  ; 

Then  (hail  I  fweetly  clofe  the  day, 
Approv'd  of  thee,  my  Lord.'* 


AN   EVENING   SONG. 

«  AUTHOR  of  life,  with  grateful  heart 
My  ev'ning  fong  I'll  raife  ; 

But  Oh,  thy  thoufand  thoufand  gifts 
Exceed  my  highefl  praife. 

What  mail  I  render  to  thy  care, 
Which  me  this  day  has  kept  ? 

A  thankful  heart's  the  leafl  return, 
And  this  thou  wilt  accept. 

Now  night  has  ipread  her  fable  wing?, 

I  would  the  day  review ; 
My  errors  nicely  mark,  and  fee 

What  dill  I  have  to  do. 

What  11  ns,  or  follies,  holy  God, 
I  may  this  day  have  done, 

I  would  confefs  with  grief,  and  pray 
For  pardon  through  thy  Son. 

ich  of  my  precious  time  I've  foft  ; 
This  fooliih  wa(le  forgive  : 
By  one  day  nearer  brought  to  death, 
May  I  begin  to  live  V 


CONCLUDING 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  175 

CONCLUDING    REFLECTIONS. 


^>.  <0>  <-€>\  *Oi  *o* 


X  HE  great  ends  of  Chriftian  Biography  are  inftruo 
tion  and  example.  By  faithfully  describing  the  lives 
of  men  eminent  for  gcdlinefs,  we  not  cnV  embalm 
-their  memory,  but  furnifh  ounelves  with  freih  mate- 
rials and  motives  for  a  holy  life.  It  is  abundantly 
more  impreffive  to  view  the  religion  of  Jefus  as  opera- 
ting in  a  living  character,  than  to  contemplate  iz  ab~ 
ftra&edly.  For  this  reafon  we  may  fuppofe  the  Lord 
the  Spirit  has  condefcended  to  exhibit  fir fl  and  pi 
cipally,  the  life  of  Chrift  ;  and  after  his,  that  of  m; 
of  his  eminent  followers.  And  for  this  reafon,  he  by 
his  holy  influences  dill  furnifhes  the  church  with  now 
and  then  a  fingular  example  of  godlinefs,  wiiich  it  is 
our  duty  to  notice  and  record.  There  can  be  no  rea- 
fonable  doubt  that  the  life  of  Mr.  Pearce  ought  to  be 
confidered  as  one  of  thefe  examples.  May  that  fame 
divine  Spirit  who  had  manifcitly  fo  great  a  hand  in 
forming  his  character,  teach  us  to  derive  from  it  both 
inftruclion  and  edification  ! 

Firft,  In  him  tve  way  fee  the  holy  efficacy  and  ly  cox- 
fequence^  the  truth  of  the  Chriflian  religion* — It  was  lonr* 
fince  afked,  Who  is  he  that  over  comet b  the  ivcrldy  bid  he 
ivho  believeth  that  Jefus  is  the  Son  of  God  ?  This  quef« 
tion  contained  a  challenge  to  men  of  all  religions,  who 
were  then  upon  the  earth.  Idolatry  had  a  great  diver- 
fity  of  fpecies  :  every  nation  worfhipping  its  own  gods, 
and  in  modes  peculinr  to  themfelves  :  philofophers 
nlfo  were  divided  into  numerous  feels,  each  flattering 
itfelf  that  it  had  found  the  truth  :  even  the  Jews  had 
their  divifions  *,  their  pharifees,  fadducees,  and  Eflenes  : 
but  great  as  many  of  them  were  in  deeds  of  divers 
•  1  kinds, 


176  Memoirs"  of  the  hie 

kinds,  an  apoftle  could  look  them  all  in  the  face,  and 
ait,  Who  is  he  that  overccmeth  tht  ftWtf  A  The  fame 
queftion  might  lately  be  diked  in  every  fucceedlng  age. 
The  various  kinds  of  religions  that  (till  prevail ;  the 
pagan,  mahometan,  jewifh,  papal,  or  proteftant,  may 
form  the  exteriors  of  man  according  to  their  refpeci- 
ive  models  ;  hut  where  is  the  man  amongft  them, 
fave  the  true  believer' in  Jefus,  that  overcometh  the 
world  ?  Men  may  ceafe  from  particular  evils,  and  af- 
fume  a  very  different  character  ;  may  lay  afide  their 
drunkennels,  hlafphemies,  or  debaucheries,  and  take  up 
with  a  kind  of  monkifh  auflerity,  and  yet  all  amount 
to  nothing  more  than  an  exchange  of  vices.  The  lufts 
of  the  tleih  will  on  many  occafions  give  place  to  thofe 
of  the  mind  ;  but  to  overcome  the  world  is  another 
thing.  By  embracing  the  doctrine  of  the  Crofs,  to 
feel  not  merely  a  dread  of  the  confequences  of  fin, 
but  a  holy  abhorrence  of  its  nature  •,  and  by  conven- 
ing with  invifible  realities,  to  become  regardlefs  of 
the  beft,  and  fearlefs  of  the  word,  that  this  world  has 
to  difpenfe  ; — this  is  the  effecT:  of  genuine  Chriftianity, 
and  this  is  a  (landing  proof  of  its  divine  original.  Let 
the  moft  inveterate  enemy  of  revelation  have  witnefT- 
ed  the  difinterefted  benevolence  of  a  Paul,  a  Peter,  or 
a  John,  and  whether  he  would  own  it,  or  not,  his  con- 
fidence muft  have  borne  tefiimony  that  this  is  true  re* 
ligion.  The  fame  may  be  faid  of  Samuel  Pearce  : 
whether  the  doclrme  he  preached  found  a  place  in 
the  hearts  of  his  hearers,  or  not,  his  fpirit  and  life  muft 
have  approved  itielf  to  their  cottfcie/ices. 

Secondly,  /;/  him  ive  fee  hoiv  much  may  he  done  fir 
God  in  a  little  time. — If  his  death  had  been  foreknown 
by  his  friends,  fome  might  have  hefitated  whether  it 
was  worth  while  for  him  to  engage  in  the  work  of 
the  miniftry  for  fo  fhort  a  period  :  yet,  if  we  take  a 
view  of  his  labours,  perhaps  there  ar,e  few  lives  pro- 
ductive of  ?.  greater  portion  of  good*     That  life  i* 

not 


Mr.  Samuel  Pear ct\  177 

not  always  the  longefl  which  is  fpun  out  to  the  greatefl 
extent  of  days.  The  firft  of  all  lives  amounted 
but  to  thirty-three  years  ;  and  the  moft  important 
works  pertaining  to  that  were  wrought  in  the  laft  three. 
There  is  undoubtedly  a  way  of  rendering  a  fhort  life 
a  long  one,  and  a  long  life  a  fhort  one,  by  filling  or 
not  filling  it  with  proper  materials.  That  time  which 
is  Squandered  away  in  {loth,  or  trifling  purfuits,  forms 
a  kind  of  blank  in  human  life  :  in  looking  it  over  there 
is  nothing  for  the  mind  to  reft  upon  •,  and  a  whole 
life  fo  fpent,  whatever  number  of  years  it  may  contain, 
iiiuft  appear  upon  reflection  fhort  and  vacant,  in  com- 
parifon  of  one  filled  up  with  valuable  acquifitions, 
and  holy  actions.  It  is  like  the  fpace  between  us  and 
the  fun,  which,  though  immenfely  greater  than  that 
which  is  traverfed  in  a  profitable  journey,  yet  being 
all  empty  fpace,  the  mind  goes  over  it  in  much  lefs 
time,  and  without  any  fatisfaclion.  If  i  that  life  be 
long  which  anfwers  life's  great  end/  Mr.  Pearce  may 
affuredly  be  find  to  have  come  to  his  grave  in  a  good 
old  age.  And  might  we  not  all  do  much  more  than 
we  do,  if  our  hearts  were  more  in  our  work  ?  Where 
this  is  wanting,  or  operates  but  in  a  fmall  degree,  dif- 
ficulties are  magnified  into  impoffibilities  ;  a  lion  is  in 
the  way  of  extraordinary  exertion  ;  or  if  we  be  indu- 
ced to  engage  in  fomething  of  this  kind,  it  will  be  at 
the  expenfe  of  a  Uniform  attention  to  ordinary  duties. 
But  fome  will  afk,  How  are  our  hearts  to  be  in  our 
work  ?  Mr.  Pearce's  heart  was  habitually  in  his ;  and 
that  which  kept  alive  the  facred  flame  in  him  appears 
to  have  been, — The  conftant  habit  of  converfing  with 
divine  truth,  and  walking  with  God  in  private. 

Thirdly,  In  him  we  fee,  in  deaf  and  flrorig  colours, 
to  <what  a  degree  of  folic!  peace  curd  joy,  true  religion 
fwi/l  rcife  usy  even  in  the  prefnt  world.  A  little  re- 
ligion, it  has  been  juflly  laid,  will  make  us  miferable* 

but 


i/8  Memoirs  of  the  late 

but  a  great  deal  will  make  us  happy.  The  one  will 
do  little  more  than  keep  the  confcience  alive,  while  our 
numerous  defers  and  inconfiftencies  are  perpetually 
furnifliing  it  with  materials  to  fcourge  us  :  the  other 
keeps  the  heart  alive,  and  leads  us  to  drink  deep  at  the 
fountain  of  joy.  Hence  it  is,  in  a  great  degree,  that 
fo  much  of  the  fpirit  of  bondage,  and  fo  little  of  the 
fpirit  of  adoption  prevails  among  Chriftians.  Relig- 
ious enjoyments  with  us  are  rather  occafional,  than 
habitual ;  or  if  in  fome  inftances  it  be  otherwife,  we 
are  ready  to  fufpeft  that  it  is  fupported  in  part  by  the 
ftrange  fire  of  enthufiafm,  and  not  by  the  pure  flame 
of  fcriptural  devotion.  But,  in  Mr.  Pearce,  we  faw  a 
devotion  ardent,  fteady,  pure,  and  perfevering  j  kin- 
dled, as  we  may  fay,  at  the  altar  of  God,  like  the  fire 
of  the  temple,  it  went  not  out  by  night  nor  by  day. 
He  feemed  to  have  learnt  that  heavenly  art,  fo  confpic- 
uous  among  the  primitive  Chriftians,  of  converting  ev- 
ery thing  he  met  with  into  materials  for  love,  and  joy, 
and  praife.  Hence  he  i  laboured,'  as  he  exprefles  it,  c  to 
exercife  mod  love  to  God  when  fuffering  molt  fevere- 
ly  ;'  and  hence  he  (o  afFectingly  encountered  the  bil- 
lows that  overwhelmed  his  feeble  frame,  crying, 

*  Sweet  affliction,  fweet  affliction, 
Singing  as  1  wade  to  heaven/ 

The  conftant  happinefs  that  he  enjoyed  in  God  was 
apparent  in  the  effects  of  his  fermons  upon  others. 
Whatever  we  feel  ourfelves  we  (hall  ordinarily  com- 
municate to  our  hearers  •,  and  it  has  been  already  no- 
ticed, that  one  of  the  mod  diftinguiftiing  properties  of 
his  difcourfes  was,— that  they  infpircd  the  ferious 
mind  with  the  livelieft  fenfations  of  happinefs.  1  hey 
defcended  upon  the  audience,  not  indeed  like  a  trans- 
porting flood,  but  like  a  ftiower  of  dew,  gently  infinu- 
ating  itfelf  into  the  heart,  infenfibly  diffipating  its 
gloom,  and  gradually  drawing  forth  the  graces  of  faith, 
hope,  love,  and  joy  :  while  the  countenance  was  bnght- 

r  -  encd 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  179 

filled  almoft  into  a  fmile,  tears  of  pleafure  would  rife, 
and  gliften,  and  fall  from  the  admiring  eye. 

What  a  practical. confutation  did  his  life  afford  of 
the  flander  fo  generally  caft  upon  the  religion  of  Jefus, 
that  it  fills  the  mind  with  gloom  and  mifery  !  No  : 
leaving  futurity  out  of  the  queftion,  the  whole  world 
of  unbelievers  might  be  challenged  to  produce  a  char- 
acter from  among  them  who  pollerled  Half  his  enjoy- 
ments. 

Fourthly;  From  his  example  we  are  furnirhed  w'th 
the  great  eft  encouragement ',  while  pur  filing  the  path  of  r. 

to  place  our  truft  in  God. THe  fituation  in  which  he 

left  his  family,  we  have  feen  already,  was  not  cwirg  to 
an  indifference  to  their  intereft,  or  an  improvident  dif- 
pofition,  or  the  want  of  opportunity  to  have  provided 
for  them  *,  but  to  a  fteady  and  determined  obedience 
to  do  what  he  accounted  the  will  of  God.  He  felt 
deeply  for  them,  and  we  all  felt  with  him,  and  longed 
to  be  able  to  afiure  him  before  his  departure,  that  they 
would  be  amply  provided  for :  but  owing  to  circum- 
ftances  which  have  already  been  mentioned,  this  was 
more  than  we  could  do.  This  was  a  point  in  which 
he  was  called  to  die  in  faith  :  and  indeed  fo  he  did. 
He  appears  to  have  had  no  idea  of  that  flood  of  kind- 
nefs,  which,  immediately  after  his  deceafe,  flowed  from 
the  religious  public  :  but  he  believed  in  God,  and 
cheerfully  left  all  with  him.  •  Oh  that  I  could  fpeak/ 
laid  he  to  Mrs.  Pearce  a  little  before  his  death,  « I 
would  tell  a  world  to  trufl  a  faithful  God.  Sweet  af- 
fliction ;  now  it  worketh  glory,  glory  !'  And  when 
fhe  told  him  the  workings  of  her  mind,  he  anfwered, 
•  Oh  trufl  the  Lord  !  If  he  lift  up  the  light  of  his 
countenance  upon  you,  as  he  has  done  upon  me  this 
day,  all  your  mountains  will  become  mole-hills.  I 
feel  your  fituation  :  I  feel  your  forrows :  but  he  who 

takes 


1 So  Memoirs  of  the  late 

takes  care  of  fparrows,  will  care  for  you  and  my  dear 

children.* 

The  liberal  contributions  which  have  fmce  been 
made,  though  they  do  not  warrant  minifters  in  general 
to  expefb  the  fame,  and  much  lefs  to  negle£l  providing 
for  their  own  families  on  fuch  a  prefumption  ;  yet 
they  muft  need  be  confidered  as  a  fmgular  encourage- 
ment, when  we  are  fatisfied  that  we  are  in  the  path 
of  duty,  to  be  inordinately  'careful  for  nothing,  but 
in  every  thing,  by  prayer  and  Amplication,  with  thankf- 
giving,  to  let  our  requefts  be  made  known  unta 
God.' 

Finally,  In  him  we  fee  that  the  way  to  tftte  excellence 
is  not  to  affect  eccentricity,  nor  to  afpire  after  the  perform- 
ance of  afew  fplendid  aclions  ;  but  to  fill  up  our  lives  with 
a  fiber,  modtfl,fncere,  affectionate,  affiduous,  and  uniform 

conduEt. Real  greatnefs  attaches  to  character  5 

and  character  arifes  from  a  courfe  ofaclion.  Solid  rep- 
utation as  a  merchant  arifes  not  from  a  man's  having 
made  his  fortune  by  a  few  fuccefsful  adventures ;  but 
from  a  courfe  of  wife  economy,  and  honourable  in- 
duftry,  which,  gradually  accumulating,  advances  by 
pence  to  fhillings,  and  by  fhillings  to  pounds.  The 
moll  excellent  philofophers  are  not  thofe  who  have 
dealt  chiefly  in  fplendid  fpeculations,  and  looked  down 
upon  the  ordinary  concerns  of  men  as  things  beneath 
their  notice ;  but  thofe  who  have  felt  their  interefts  uni- 
ted with  the  interefts  of  mankind,  and  bent  their  princi- 
pal attention  to  things  of  real  and  public  utility.  It  is 
much  the  fame  in  religion.  We  do  not  efteem  a  man 
for  one,  or  two,  or  three  good  deeds,  any  farther  than 
as  thefe  deeds  are  indications  of  the  real  ftate  of  his 
mind.  "We  do  not  eftimate  the  charafter  of  Chrift 
himfelf  fo  much  from  his  having  given  fight  to  the 
blind,  or  reftored  Lazarus  from  the  grave,  as  from  his 
going  about  continually  doing  good. 

Thefe 


Mr.  Samuel  Pearce.  1 8 1 

Thefe  fingle  attempts  at  great  things  are  frequently 
the  efforts  of  a  vain  mind,  which  pants  for  fame,  and 
has  not  patience  to  wait  for  it,  nor  difcernment  to 
know  the  way  in  which  it  is  obtained.  One  purfues 
the  made,  and  it  ihes  from  him  ;  while  another  turns 
his  back  upon  it,  and  it  follows  him.  The  one  aims 
.at  once  to  climb  the  rock,  but  falls  -ere  he  reaches  the 
fummit ;  the  other  walking  round  it,  in  purfuit  of 
another  objeft,  gradually  and  infenfibly  afcends  till  he 
reaches  it :  feeking  the  approbation  of  his  God,  he 
finds  with  it  that  of  his  fellow  Chriftians. 


<*j> 


THE  promifed  Prefence  of  Chrifi  with  his  People 

a  Source  of  Confolation  under  the  mojl 

painful  bereavements. 


SERMON 

DELIVERED    AT    TilE 

Baptift  Mceting-Houfe,  Cannon-Street,  Birmingham* 


•CN 

LORD'S  DAT  EVENING,  OCT.  ao,  1799; 
Occafioned  by  the  Death  of 

The  Rev,  SAMUEL  PEARCE,  a.  m. 

LATE  PASTOR 
OF  THE  CHURCH  ASSEMBLING  THERE  \ 
Who  died  0 Sober  10,  in  the  ^th  Tear  of  his  Age, 


By  JOHN   RYLAND,  d.  bu 

To  which  is  prefixed, 

AM 

ORATION 

DELIVERED  AT  THE  GRAVE,    OCT.  16,  179$, 
By  the  Rev.  J.  BREWER. 


BOSTON: 
MLINTIP   By    MAWNXNQ   &    iOElNfc 


THE 

SUBSTANCE  of  an  ORATION, 

DELIVERED    AT    THE    GRAVE 
0  F 

'The  Rev.  SAMUEL    PEARCE, 


WE  are  called  together  to-day  upon  a  mod  for- 
emn  and  affecting  occafion.  Our  bufinefs 
here  is,  to  convey  the  precious  remains  of  a  dear  de- 
parted brother  to  his  long  home,  to  the  houfe  ap- 
pointed for  all  living.  The  fubjeci  of  our  prefent  con- 
templation is  of  no  ordinary  kind  •,  it  is  that  which 
ought  to  come  home  to  every  man's  bofom,  becaufe  it 
is  that  in  which  we  are  all  interefted.  It  is  not  like 
many  other  fubje&s,  which,  while  fome  are  materially 
affefted  by  them,  to  others  they  are  articles  of  total 
indifferency  :  but  death  fpeaks  in  an  imperious  tone, 
and  demands  the  attention  of  all. 

Death  !  folemn  found  !  the  bare  annunciation  of 
which,  mould  arreft  the  mind  of  every  individual  in  this 
numerous  afiembly.  "Where  is  the  man  that  liveth  and 
fhall  not  fee  death  ?  When  Xerxes  viewed  his  incalcu- 
lable army,  it  is  faid,  he  wept,  from  the  confideration 
that  in  a  few  years,  not  one  of  that  prodigious  hoft 
would  be  living.  Whether  the  Perfian  really  wept  or 
not,  I  am  not  fure  ;  but  when  I  confider,  that  in  a  few,, 
comparatively  a  very  few  years,  not  one  of  all  whom  I 
am  now  addrefiing  but  muft  be  laid  as  low  as  the 
breathiefs  corpfe  of  cur  dear  departed  brother,  I  feel 

my 


1 86  Oration  at  the  Grave  of 

my  mind  deeply  affecled.  And,  O  that  I  could  but 
awaken  a  due  cone  rn  in  every  bofom  about  this  truly 
momentous  fubjeft  ! 

Thus  (lands  the  irrevocable  decree  of  the  immuta- 
ble God — It  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once 
to  die.  The  wife  and  uriwife,  the  patrician  and  ple- 
beian, the  monarch  and  the  beggar,  mud  fubmit  alike 
to  the  ftrong  arm  of  this  univerfal  conqueror,  the  king 
of  terrors.  A  confederation  like  this,  ihould  fink  deep 
into  every  man's  heart ;  but  alas  !  man  is  a  drange  be- 
ing, loth  to  learn  what  mod  intimately  belongs  to 
him.  The  moil  awful  things  lofe  their  efFecT:  by  their 
frequency  ;  and  hence  it  is,  that  the  death  of  a  fellow- 
creature  is,  in  general,  no' more  regarded  than  "the 
fall  of  an  autumnal  leaf  in  .  the  pathlefs  defsrt." 
Wretched  apathy  !  Fatal  infenfibility  ! 

Let  us  for  a  moment  meditate  upon  the  effects  fub- 
fequent  to  the  triumph  of  the  lafl  enemy.  What  mel- 
ancholy ravages  does  he  make,  even  in  this  world  !  He 
caufes  the  faired  flower  to  wither,  often  in  the  morn- 
ing \  he  (tains  the  pride  of  all  fublunary  glory ;  and 
cafts  the  nobled  work  of  God  into  the  dud.  When 
he  takes  to  himfelf  his  great  power,  none  can  day  his 
hand.  Fixed  in  his  purpofe,  and  irrefiftible  in  the  ex- 
ecution cf  the  fame,  he  dalks,  untouched  by  the  pangs 
of  agonizing  nature;  the  didrefs  of  helplefs  infancy  ; 
the  poignant  grief  of  paternal  affe&ion  ;  or  the  bit- 
tered  forrows  of  connubial  love.  Relentlefsly  he 
breaks  in  upon  domedic  happinefs  ;  frudrates  the  mod 
benevolent  defigns  ;-and  cads  a  dark  fhade  upon  the 
brighted  profpecls.  In  fine,  cruelty  marks  his  foot- 
fteps ;  and  defolation  and  anguifh  are  his  common  at- 
tendants. 

If  we  look  beyond  the  fcene  which  prefents  itfelf  to 
our  view-in  this  life  3  and,  by  the  aid  of  revelation,  en- 
deavour 


the  Rev.  Samuel  Pcarce.  i  S  7 

deavour  to  fubftantiate  the  ferious  realities  of  death, 
beyond  "  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveller  re- 
turns !"  if  we  look  into  the  eternal  world,  and  there 
behold  what  follows  death,  furely  we  cannot  remain 
unmoved. 

Man  is  immortal ;    it  is  the  flefh  only  that  dies : 
The  fpirit  is  incorruptible.     Hence  death  is  the  moft 
eventful  period.     The  body  returns  to  duft  ;  but  the 
fpirit  afcends  to  God  ;  and  entcii  then  upon  its  eter- 
nal (late.     But  the  ftate  of  all  men  is  not  alike  beyond 
the  grave — The  wicked  is  driven  aiuay  in  his  wiviednefi* 
The  guilty  finner  then  knows,  that  it  is  a  fearful  thing 
to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God.      Guilt  fub- 
jefts  him  to  the  divine  difpleafure  •,  and  moral  deprav- 
ity unfits  him  for  that  place,  into  which  nothing*  that 
deflleth  can  poffibly  enter.     Fearful  moment  !   Ail  his 
hopes  are  now  like  a  fpider's  web  ;  his  imaginary  ref- 
uges fail ;  and  the  wrath  of  God  "  beats  upon  his 
naked  foul,  in  one  eternal  ftorm."      The  rich  man 
in  Luke  xvi.  can  tell  us  all  about  it.     He  died,  and 
was  buried.;  and  in  hell  he  lift  up  his  eyes,  being  in 
torment.     And  thus  will  it  happento  all,  who  know  not 
God.     He  that  made  them  will  have  no  mercy  on 
them  ;  whatever  their  refpeclive  fituation  may  have 
been  in  this  life.     Death,  that  mighty  leveller,  will 
reduce  them  all   to  a   fad  equality.       He  that  fared 
fumptuoufly  every  day,  had  not  a  crop  of  water  to  cool 
his  burning  tongue,  when  once  he  had  palled  the  tre- 
mendous gulf. 

How  different  the  (late  of  a  good  man  !  The  right- 
eous hath  hope  in  his  death.  The  day  of  his  death  is 
infinitely  better  than  the  day  of  his  birth  :  It  is  his  cor- 
onation day,  the  final  clofe  of  all  his  troubles.  He 
fhali  forrow  no  more.  Whatever  he  underwent  in 
paffing  through  this  vale  of  tears  ;  however  numerous 
and  fevere  his  trials,  they  are  all  over.     The  Lamb  in 

the 


1 8  8  Oration  at  the  Grave  of 

the  midft  of  the  throne  (hall  feed  him*  He  fhall  eat  of 
the  tree  of  life  which  is  in  the  midft  of  the  paradife  of 
God.  He  enters  upon  his  reft,  and  fhall  go  no  more 
out  forever.  He  is  happy,  as  God  is  happy ;  and  fa- 
red with  an  everlafting  falvation* 

Thus  death  is  always  a  folemn,  and  affecting  event : 
but  fometimes,  circumftances  render  it  peculiarly  fo  : 
and  this  is  now  the  cafe.  We  have  conveyed  no  com- 
mon mortal  to  the  grave.  Here  lies  the  cold,  the  exan- 
imated  clay  of  a  good  man  :  of  an  eminently  good 
man  ;  a  faithful,  highly  favoured  minifter  of  the  glori- 
ous Gofpel  of  the  bleiled  God.  When  a  good  man 
dies,  it  is  a  common  lofs  ;  thus  the  Pfalmift  viewed  it. 
Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceafeth  !  The  death  of  fuch 
a  man  is  a  national  lcfs,  for  "  the  ftrength  of  empire 
is  religion."  Righteovfnefs  exalteth  a  nation.  Good  men 
are  the  fait  of  the  earth.  It  is  particularly  a  lofs  to  the 
caufe  of  God  on  earth  :  there  is  one  labourer  lefs  in 
the  vineyard  •,  one  wratchman  lefs  upon  the  walls  of  Je- 
rufaleiru  The  death  of  that  good  man,  whom  we  are 
now  bewailing,  is  a  great  lofs  to  the  churches  of 
Chrift.  His  ardent  love  for  the  whole  truth  ;  his  fla- 
ming zeal ;  his  chafte  converiation  will  be  long  re- 
membered by  many. 

But  you,  my  brethren,  who  eompofe  the  Church 
and  Congregation  in  this  place,  you  have  had  a  great 
breach  made  upon  you  ;  a  breach  that  cannot  eaiily 
be  repaired.  You  have  loft  a  valuable  minifter  ;  a 
man,  who  laboured  hard  for  your  eternal  good  ;  a 
man,  whofe  grand  aim  was  to  make  you  happy  for 
ever.  You  know  how  frequently  he  has  warned  you 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ;  how-  plainly  he  has 
pointed  you  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  as  the  only  facrifice 
for  your  fins.  Yes,  ye  are  witnefies  how  he  has  pray- 
ed for  you,  and  wept  over  you.  You  have  often 
heard   him    raife,  within    thefe    walls,  his  charming 

voiccj 


the  Rev.  Samuel  1? cared*  189 

voice,  in  publilhing  glad  tidings  to  Zion.  This  night 
twelve  months,  the  place  that  I  am  now  occupying, 
was  occupied  by  him.  This  very  night  twelve 
months,  you  heard  the  Gofpel  in  this  very  place  from 
his  mouth  :  But  it  is  all  over  ;  you  mail  hear  his 
v,  you  flail  fee  his  face  no  more.  There  lies  all 
that  could  die  of  a  good  man  ;  a  faithful  miniftef ;  a 
tendfer  father  ;  and  an  affectionate  hufband.  His  lips 
ate  cibfed  in  file  nee  m,  and  a  long  night  hangs  upon 
his  eyes.  Duft  is  returning  to  duft  ;  and  corruption  * 
already  commences  its  riot. 

Painful  as  the  ftroke  has  been  to  you,  there  ire* 
thofe,  on'  •■whom  it  has  fallen  with  greater,  feverity. 
You  may  be  provided  with  another  miirifter  ;  but 
who  can  make  up  the  lofs  to  his  bereaved  family? 
Who  can  reftore  him  to  the  deeply  affli&ed  partner 
ef  his  life  r  Who  like  him,  can  foothe  her  forrows,  and 
cheer  her  on  the  rugged  path  of  time  ?  Who  can 
reftore  the  fond  father,  to  five  dear  helplefs  babes  ? 
Cruel  death  !  Inexorable  monfter  !  What  haft  thou 
done  2 — But  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  we  will.be  ft  ill. 

The  pfefent  difpenfation  is  not  only  folemn  arid 
affe&ing,  but  it  is  likewife  alarming,  'it  has  aloud 
voice  :  not  to  attend  to  it,  would  be  highly  criminal. 
It  fpeaks  to  us  all.  Death  always  fpeaks  loudly;  but 
feme  deaths  louder  than  others.  The  pre fent  fpeaks 
loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  this  chtJrch  Atfi)  of 
';regation.  Methinks,  with  ftrong  emphafis.  it  r.cw 
faith,  Unto  you,  O  mfn  of  this  flat:,  I  call. 
You  havehad  a  great  lofs  5  but  is  there  not  a  caufe  ? 
Cod  forbid  that  I  mould  charge  the  death  of  your 
miriifter  upon  you  !  Yet  I  know  it  is  jpdffilffe  for  a 
people  to  murder  their  minifter  ;  and  that  by  the 
mole  cruel  means.  There  needs  neither  flit  poifon 
nor  the  dagger  ;•  it  may  be  done  eiFedually  without 
either.  I  hope  it  is  quite  inapplicable  ;  but  it  may 
R  not 


190  Oration  at  the  Grave  of 

not  be  altogether  ufelefs,  to  a(k,  Are  there  none  of 
you,  who  have  pierced  him  through  with  many  for- 
rows  ?  Has  his  heart  never?  been  wrung  by  your  un- 
kindnefs  ?  Has  your  mifbehaviour,  in  your  Chriftian 
profeflion,  never  caufed  him  to  fay,  O  that  1  had  in 
the  ivildernefS)  a  lodging-place,  of  wayfaring  men,  that  I 
might  Lave  my  people  and  go  from  them.  Jer.  ix.  2.  ? 
Though  I  thus  (peak,  I  am  fure  it  has  no  general  ap- 
plication. Few  men  were  better  beloved  by  their 
people  than  he  was.  Your  many  prayers  for  his  re- 
covery •,  your  tender  folicitude  for  his  welfare  ;  your 
prefent  evident  diftrefs,  all  fpeak  for  you  :  your  tears 
do  you  honour.  But  let  me  fpeak  it  again  •,  (hould 
there  be  a  cruel  individual  amongft  you,  to  whom  the 
charge  applies,  I  would  not  for  a  world,  be  that  man  : 
He  muft  anfwer  for  it  another  day.  God  will  avenge 
his  own  eleft. 

Where  this  has  not  been  the  cafe  ;  where  nothing 
but  kindnefs  marked  your  behaviour  towards  your 
departed  friend  ;  has  he  had  no  occafion  to  weep  in 
fecret  on  your  account,  becaufe  though  you  efteemed, 
the  man,  you  negle&ed  his  meffage  ?  Ah  brethren  ! 
it  is  to  be  feared,  unlefs  your  ftate,  as  a  church  and 
congregation,  be  fingular,  that  the  word  preached  did 
not  profit  all  of  you.  Some  of  you  may  yet  be  in 
your  fins.  God  has  borne  long  with  you  ;  but  he 
may  have  been  weary  of  forbearing  ;  he  may  have 
been  angry  at  your  infidelity,  and  in  judgment  taken 
away  his  fervant.  I  do  not  fay  this  is  the  cafe  ;  but 
if  it  be  only  a  poffthle  cafe,  it  (hould  caufe  fearchings 
of  heart  amongft  you. 

It  is  a  providence  that  fpeaks  to  us  all,  as  mortal 
MEN.  In  a  little  time,  according  to  the  common 
courfe  of  nature,  the  place  that  now  knows  us,  (hall 
know  us  no  more.  Time  with  rapid  wing,  bears  u«- 
sway  to  that  place,  where  no   device  nor  work  i* 

found  ; 


the  Rev.  Samuel  Pcarcc.  1 9 1 

found  ;  to  tKat  ftate,  where  there  is  no  diftin£liort, 
but  that  of  jufl  and  unjuft.  But  who  can  reckon 
upon  the  common  extent  of  human  life  ?  Behold, 
before  our  eyes,  a  young  man,  who  had  not  lived  out 
half  his  days,  called  to  eternity,  in  the  thirty-fourth 
year  of  his  life.  Should  not  this  awaken  our  concern, 
and  excite  us  to  make  that  important  inquiry,  Who 
shall  be  the  next  ?  He  who  bids  the  f aire ft  for 
length  of  years,  may  be  the  firft  to  fall.  Let  us  then 
fo  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our  heart* 
unto  wifdom. 

We  will  now  "  turn  to  the  bright  reverfe  of  this 
mortifying  fcene."  We  have  hitherto  looked  at  the 
dark  fide  of  the  cloud,  let  us  now  contemplate  i:s  lu- 
minous one. 

Death  we  admit  is  a  penalty — by  Jin  came  death* 
Death  is  an  enemy — the  Lift  enemy  ;  but,  blefled  be 
God,  he  is  a  conquered  enemy.  The  Captain  of  our 
falvation  has  deftroyed  him  who  had  the  power  of 
death.  Influenced  by  the  faith  of  God's  elect,  be- 
lievers in  all  ages  have  triumphed  over  death  \  they 
have  fang  with  their  expiring  breath,  and  exulted 
anidft  the  fweliings  of  Jordan. 

Death  is  amongft  the  privileges  of  the  children  of 
God.  Death  is  yours.  He  meets  them  as  a  friend, 
as  an  ejivoy  commiCioned  by  their  heavenly  Father, 
to  bring  them  to  his  throne.  Our  eyes  have  fre- 
quently beheld  the  victory  of  faith,  in  the  dark  valley* 
Affaulted  on  either  Jiand  by  pale  difeafe,  and  its  long 
train  of  attendants,  we  have  feen  good  men  rifing 
(uperior  to  all  the  evils  of  their  fituation ;  feel- 
ing a  "  majefty  in  death  *,"  and  entering  the  eternal 
world,  {houting,  Thanks  be  to  Cod  iuhc-  hath  given  us 
th-e  vi&ory*  . 

This 


192  Oration  at  the  Grave  of 

This  is  not  alL     The  total  deftruttic/n  of  de.nt:i 
laid    in   the    irreverfible  courifel   of  the   MoftHigh. 
The  laft  enemy  fliall  be  deftroyed.      Death  himfelf 
/nuft  die.     The  tabernacle  of  God  fliall  be  with  men  y 
he  will  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes  ;  and  there 
fiaall  be  no  more  death.     The  tea  fball  give  up   its 
K  and  thofe  that  are  in  their  graves  (hall  cpme 
.     Then  the  Lord  Jefus  will   mak'i 
►,   ar.d  caft-  death  and    hell 
fire    and   brimftone.       The   re-animated 

emed  mail  then  be  perfectly  releafed   from 
bondage  of  corruption,  and  ike  unto  the  g' 

ous  body  of  their  great  Head  :  the  whole  number  of 
the  ele£l  fliall  then  be  -prsfented  before  the  pzE&iice 
of  the  divine  glory,  with  exceeding  great  joy.   ! 

One  grand  indifpenfable  inquiry  yet  remains. — By 
what  means  may  we  attain  to  the  refurre&ion  of  the 
juft  ?  In  fearch  of  this  important  fubjecl:,  we  are  npt 
left  to  wander  in  the  maze  of  uncertainty  and  doubt ; 
the  way  into  the  holied  is  made  manifeft.  There 
are  three  things  abfolute»!y  rdqriifile  for  a  man  to  be 
acquainted  with,  before  he  'can  enter  int6  lift, 

First,   The  pardon  of  cur  fins.      Tl 

propofes  this  unfpeakable  gift  -by  the  bleed  cfPjef 

V/e  have  redemption  through  his  bloody  even  the  forgivi. 

if  our  fins.     Ephes.  i.  7. 
J        J 

Secondly,  The  justification  of  our  peifons.   'Pio- 
vifion  for  which  is  made  by  the  obedience  of  tl 
of  God.      Hf  is  the  end  *f  \ 
every  we  that  believeih.      ROM. 


of  God.      He  is  the  end  tf  the  lire  for  :\  ffnejfs  t\ 

hat  believeih.      Rom.  x.  4/ 


Tiikrbly,  The  fanclrfication  of  our  nature.     Jefuf 
is  of  Go#  fnSd  *.      I.  Coil.  L   30. 

By  Ike  influence  of  his  Spirit  upon  our  hearts,  "  wi 
are  made  partakers  cf  the  divine  nature  \  fanftified  in 

body* 


the  Rev.  Samuel  Pearce.  193 

body,  foul  and  fpirit  ;    and  changed  thus  into  the  di- 
vine image,  as  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God."   2  Con.  iii.  8* 

This  is  the  only  method  of  faivation  countenanced 
in  fcripture ;  and  it  feems  a  method,  "  juft  to  God, 
and  fare  to  man." 

To  conclude.  Though  we  forrow  to-day,  we  do 
not  forrow  as  thofe  who  have  no  hope.  God,  who 
has  taken  away  our  dear  brother,  will  take  care  of  his. 
He  will  be  a  hufband  to  the  forlorn  widow,  and  a 
father  to  the  dear  tender  babes.  A  good  man  leaveih 
an  inheritance  to  his  children  s  children.  God  will  pro- 
vide -,  he  will  furely  do  them  good  ;  he  has  the  hearts 
of  all  men  in  his  hands ;  he  will  raife  up  friends  for 
them  j  and  eventually  make  it  appear,  that  even  this 
dark  difpenfation,  is  amongft  the  all  things,  that 
work  together  for  good. 

He  that  has  the  government  upon  his  (houlders, 
will  take  care  of  you,  my  brethren,  as  a  church.  A 
paftor  is  provided  for  you  \  and  he  who  knows  him, 
will  bring  him  amongft  you  in  his  own  way,  and 
time,  Truft  in  the  Lord  •,  he  will  never  for  fake  Zion  \ 
her  walls  are  ever  before  him.  Take  his  word  for 
jour  rule  \  live  according  to  the  fame  \  feek  him  by 
prayer  and  fupplication  j  and  you  fliall  yet  praife  him. 

We  now  bid  farewell,  a  long  fareweli,  to  the  fleep- 
tng  duft  of  our  departed  brother  :  but,  blefied  be  God, 
though  it  be  a  long  farewell,  it  will  not  be  an  ever- 
lading  one.  We  (hall  meet  again.  What  we  are  to- 
day fowing  in  difhonour,  (hall  be  raifed  in  glory.  The 
trumpet  fliall  found  ;  our  brother  will  arife  ;  we  (hall 
meet,  no  more  to  part.  When  Jefus  comes,  he  will 
bring  all  his  faints  with  him.  Comfort  ye  one  aooth* 
cr  with  thefe  things. 

R  t 


S    E    R    M    O    N 

Occasioned  by  the  Death  of 

The  Rev.  SAMUEL    PEARCE,   a.  m, 


John  xiv.  18, 

/  WILL  MOT  LRAVE  TOU  C0M£0j2?L£SS.     I  WILL 
COME    UNTO   YOU. 

0  deeply  sml  ienfibJe  of  the  iofs  fuftained  by 
thia  church  in  general,  not  to  fay  by  the  neareft 
relative  of  rny  dear  departed  brother,  that  on  a  par- 
tial view  of  their  circumiiances,  (and  our  views,  es- 
pecially of  afHi£live  events,  are  too  commonly  partial) 
I  could  not  be  furprifrd,  were  fome  new  prefent 
ready  to  exclaim,  "  Is  there  any  forrow  like  unto  our 
forrow,  wherewith  the  Lord  has  this  day  afflicted  us  ?" 
But  though  I  fcarcely  know  where  a  church  could 
fuftain  an  equal  lofs,  by  the  removal  of  fo  young  a 
paftor  \  nor  can  I  conceive,  there  exifts  a  widow, 
whom  death  has  plundered  of  a  richer  ftore  of  bleff- 
in«;s,  by  taking  from  her  and  from  her  infant  care, 
the  guide  of  their  youth  ;  yet,  on  more  mature  con- 
sideration, we  mufl  not  admit  that  lamentation  to  be 
applicable,  even  to  them  that  feel  the  moft  pungent 
grief  in  this  aflembly.  The  event  which  has  occasion- 
ed 


xg6  The  Trejente  of  Chrijt 

ed  our  prefent  meeting,  muft  deeply  afVeci  even  (Iran- 
gers,  whole  heart?  know  how  to  feel ;  but  all  the  clear- 
ed: friends  of  the  deceafed  muft  acknowledge,  that  the 
clays  of  tribulation,  which  preceded  this  mournful 
evening,  were  not  the  feafon  of  difplaying  the  Lord's 
anger,  but  of  the  clear  manifeftation  of  his  faithfulnefs 
and  love  :  They  were  to  Itim  the  days  of  heaven  upon 
earth.  Surely  they  who  drank  with  him  the  deepeft 
out  of  his  cup  of  affliction,  could  find  no  favour  of  the 
curfe,  no,  not  at  the  bottom ;  nor  could  they  drink 
the  bitter,  without  tafting  alfo  of  the  fweet,  which 
was  not  fparingly  dropt  into  it,  but  copioufly  infufed. 
And  after  fuch  proofs  and  illuftrations  of  the  divine 
fidelity,  I  cannct  but  believe,  that  (lie  who  needs  them 
mod  of  all,  fhall  find  farther  ftores  of  confolation  laid 
up  for  her  relief :  fince  God  her  Maker  is  her  huf- 
band,  who  gveth  fongs  in  the  night. 

This  church  alfo  muft  be  reminded,  that  there  was 
a  church  at  Jerufalem,  near  eighteen  centuries  ago, 
which  fuftained  a  lofs  unfpeakably  greater  than  that 
which  they  now  bewail  •,  while  yet  the  forrow,  which 
was  then  endured,  was  quickly  turned  into  joy.  And 
your  affectionate  paftor,  who,  both  in  health  and  in 
ficknefs,  cared  fo  much  for  your  welfare,  did  not  hefi- 
tate  to  recommend  to  your  attention,  the  kind  aflur- 
ance  which  was  given  for  their  relief  \  as  believing  it 
to  contain  ground  of  encouragement,  on  which  you 
alfo  are  authorized  to  depend.  He  who  faid  to  his 
clear  difciples,  u  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortlefs  or- 
phans, I  will  come  unto  you?  has  the  fame  refpe£t  to 
his  whole  church  in  every  age  •,  and  you,  my  brethren, 
may  as  fafely  rely  on  his  gracious  promife,  a.s  his  very 
apoftles. 

Yes,  beloved,  we  are  authorized  to  make  a  general 
application  of  this  word  of  confolation  ;  and  muft  af- 
firm, Tbat  the  promifed  prefence  of  the  bleffed  Re- 
deemer 


a  Source  of  ConfoJaiion.  197 

ler  is  the  bed  fource  of  comfort,  to  all  his  people^ 
in  every  time  of  trouble. 

In  complying  with  the  requeft  of  my  dear  deceafed 
brother,  I(riall  firft  corvficter  the  fubject  in  reference 
to  thofe,  to  whom  it  was  immediately  addrefTed,  and 
then  endeavour  to  apply  it  to  the  prefent  occaGon. 

Fip.st.     Let  us  notice  the  immediate  reference  of 
declaration,  to  our  Lord's    d\lciple$,   who  were 
then  favoured  with  his  bod"  ip'e. 

You  are  well  aware  that  the  words  I  have  read 
were  fpoken  by  the  blefied  jefus,  to  thofe  who  follow- 
ed him:  in  the  days  of  his  humiliation  ;  and  that  when^ 
he  thus  addreffed  thern,  forrow  had  filled  their  hearts> 
becaufe  I19  had  juil  announced  his  approaching  depart- 
ure. He  came  from  the  Father,  and  was  come  into 
the  world,  and  though  the  world  was  made  by  hirru 
yet  the  world  knew  him  not;  but  he  had  made  him- 
felf  known  to  thefe  his  difciples,  whom  he  had  chofen 
odd  ;  and  new  when  he  was  about  to 
amd"  go  unto  the  Father,  though  his  ftu- 
pid  anH  ungrateful  countrymen  would  rather  rejoice 
at  his  reiving  the  earth,  than  bewail  it,  yet  his  difci- 
ples could  not  but  weep  and  lament  and  be  forrowful  ; 
and  I'd  rely,  well  they  might,  at  the, thought  of  lofing 
fuch  an  invaluable  Friend  ! 

EfpeciaHy  we  might  expect  this  to  be  the  cafe,  if 
wc  reffeft  on  the  manner  in  which  he  was  to  he  re- 
moved from  them.     They  were  to  fee  hirn  falfely  ac- 

\d,unjuftly  condemned,  and  cruelly  murdered  \  be- 
ing nailed  to  thecrofs  with  wicked  hands,  fmfpended 
between  two  thieves,  and  while  thus  numbered  with 
tranfgrv.ffors,  infdhed  and  derided  in  his.laft  agonies. 
Ye?,  he  would  be'  treated  as  the  obj^cl  of  national  ab- 
horrence and  execfatiorH  and  that  by  the  only  people 

upon 


198  The  Preface  of  Chrljl 

upon  earth,  who  profefild  to  be  the  worfhippers  of  the 
true  God,  And  his  difciples  muft  either  view  this 
barbarous  treatment  of  their  bleffed  Lord,  or  hide 
themfelves  from  the  flocking  fcene,  by  forfaking  him 
in  the  hour  of  diftrefs.  In  the  mean  white,  he  was 
alfo  apparently  abandoned  by  God  himfeif,  the  zeal 
of  whofe  houfe  had  confumed  him  ;  the  Lord  was 
pleafed  to  bruife  him*  and  put  him  to  grief;  he  was 
refolved  to  make  his  foul  an  offering  for  fin,  and  there- 
fore he  called  on  his  fword  to  awake  againft  him,  who 
was  their  good  Shepherd  \  though  he  was  one  in  cov- 
enant, yea,  one  in  nature  with  himfeif;  who  could 
without  robbery  claim  equality  with  God.  What 
could  be  more  furprizing,  diftrefiing  and  perplexing 
to  his  difciples,  than  fuch  a  ieries  of  events  I 

While  Jcfus  was  with  them  he  had  fed  them,  and 
kept  them  as  a  fhepherd  cloth  his  flock  \  he  had  laid 
them  like  lambs  in  his  bofom,  and  led  them  on  grad- 
ually in  the  paths  of  truth  and  righteoufhefs,  as  they 
were  able  to  bear  it.  He  had  been  gentle  among 
them,  as  a  nurfmg  father  is  gentle  towards  his  little 
children  ;  pitying  their  infirmities,  rectifying  their 
mi  (takes,  fupplying  their  wants,  healing  their  maladies ; 
manifefiing  to  them  his  Father's  will,  and  keeping 
them  in  his  name :  and  muft  they  now  lofe  his  vifible 
prefence,  and  fee  him  no  more  ? 

He  had  been  little  more  than  thr:c  and  thirty  years 
in  the  world,  and  moit  of  them  had  known  him  but  a 
very  fmall  part  of  that  period  -,  they  had,  however,  now 
beheld  his  glory,  and  were  convinced  that  it  was  the 
glory  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
md  truth.  They  were  fatisfied  that  he  alone  had  the 
words  of  eternal  life  •,  they  believed  and  knew  that 
he  was  the  Chrift,  the  Son  of  the  living  God  ;  though 
at  prefent  they,  underitood  but  imperfectly  that  plan 
of  redemption,  which  rendered  it  expedient  and  ne- 

ceffary, 


a  Source  of  Ccnfilaikn.  199 

ccfl^ry,  that  he  {hpyld  fuffcr  all  thefe  things  and  then 
€i;ter  into  glory.  This  remaining  ignorance  muft 
abundantly  enhance  their  grief,  at  the  intimations  given 
them  of  his  departure  being  at  hand.* 

But  in  thefe  words,  their  gracious  Lord  fuggefls, 
that  they  had  no  occafion  to  fink  under  their  forrows. 
He  would  not  leave  them  comfortlefs,  like  deftitute  or- 
phansy  who  had  no  affectionate  parent,  no  wife  tutor, 
no  faithful  guardian,  to  fupply  their  wants,  fympathize 
with  them,  protect  them  from  evil,  or  inftrudl  them 
in  the  way  of  duty.  No,  he  had  promifed  them  his 
Holy  Spirit,  to  be  their  Comforter  and  Monitor;  and 
here  he  engages  alfo,  to  come  again  to  them  himfelf ; 
J  will  come  unto  yout  faith  our  Lord.  This  promiie 
was  fulfilled  to  them  in  feveral  ways — 

1.  In  his  repeated  appearances  to  them,  after  his 
refurreftion.  Thus,  as  he  fuggefts  in  the  next  verfe, 
although  in  a  little  while,  the  world  fliculd  fee  him 
no  more,  yet  they  fhouid  fee  him  ;  and  that  fight 
fnould  be  the  pledge  that  his  words  fhouid  hold  good, 
"  Becaufe  I  live,  ye  fhali  live  alfo."     Accordingly  the 

Evangelifts 

*  The  conceptions  of  the  difciples,  on  the  fubje&  of  ChriiV. 
atoning  facrifice,  appear  to  have  been  much  lefs  diftinct  than  thofe  of 
David,  I  aiah,  and  many  of  the  Old  Ttllament  faints,  who  lived  be- 
fore the  declenfion  of  the  Jewifh  church  ;  which  appears  to  have 
loft  much  of  its  fpirittsul  light,  and  to  have  become  more  and  more 
carnalized,  from  the  days  of  Malachi,  till  the  coming  of  our  Lord, 
And  as  it  teemed  neceffary  that  this  general  declenfion,  and  ignorance 
of  the  nature  of  the  ivIeCiah's  character  and  kingdom  ihould  be  fuf- 
fered  to  take  place,  in  oro.er  to  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy,  in  the 
death  of  our  aviour,  by  the  hands  of  his  own  countrymen  ;  io  there 
was  an  expediency,  and  a  difplay  of  wiidom  in  concealing  from  the 
difciples  the  necelftty  and  glorious  dellgn  of  Chrift's  Death,  that  they 
might  not  rejoice  in  fo  awful  an  event,  till  after  it  was  over  :  Jiad 
their  ideas  been  clear  on  this  head,  they  mull  have  rejoiced  in  hi* 
firfTerings  at  the  very  time  of  them  ;  tut  it  l'eemed  more  fitting  that 
th?y  Ihould  mourn  then,  and  that  their  forrow  fjiculd  be  turned  iatt 
i?y,  after  his  refurre&ioa. 


2oo  The  Phjenct  of  Chrijl 

EvangeliAs  atteft,  that  he  "  (hewed  tiuuTelf  alive  aftrr 
his  pafTiori,  by  many  infallible  proofs,  unto  the  A 
lies  whom  he  had  ehofen,  being  feen  of  them  i 
days,"  before  he  was  taken  up  into  glory  :  for  God 
who  raifed  him  up,  the  third  day  after  his  crucifixion, 
cc  (hewed  him  openly,  not  to  all  the  people,  but  unto 
witneffes  ehofen  before  of  God,  even  to  us,"  fays  Pe- 
ter, "  who  did  eat  and  drink  with  him  after  he  rofe 
from  the  dead  ;  whom  he  commanded  to  preach  i. 
the  people,  and  to  teltify  that  he  is  appointed  to  be 
the  Judge  of  the  living  and  the  dead  ;  and  that  to  kirn 
all  the  prophets  gave  witnefs,  that  through  his  name, 
whofoever  belleveth  in  him,  fhall  receive  remiflion  of 
fins."  Therefore,  though  he  foon  left  them  again, 
being  carried  up  into  heaven,  yet  their  underftandings 
having  been  opened  by  him,  that  they  might  under- 
fland  the  fcriptures,  and  fee  how  it  behoved  him  to 
fufFer,  and  to  rife  again,  "  they  worfhipped  him, 
when  he  was  parted  from  them,  and  returned  to  Je- 
rufalem  with  great  joy,"  where  they  waited  to  be  en- 
dued with  power  from  on  high,  and  received  the 
promifed  eiTufion  of  the  Spirit,  not  many  days  after- 
ward.    JBut, 

•2.     It  received  a  more  permanent  accomplishment, 
in  the  continued  enjoyment  of  his  Spiritual  Prefence 
and  divine  Influence.     We  fully  afcertain  this -privi- 
lege to  be  included  in  the   text,   by  Cor 
promife,  /  will  come  unto  you,  with  thofe 
recorded    by    Matthew,  which  admit  of  no  foiution 
without  the  acknowledgment  of   Chrift's  proper  di- 
vinity :  "Where  fkup\6r  three  ere  gathered  together  it 
nam*,  there  am  I,  in  the  mldjl  of  them.     And,  lo  !   I  am 
luhh  \ou  ahv&ys  to  the  evd  of  the  ivcrfd.     Amen." 

3.     At  the  end  of  the  world,  it  (hall  receive  a  far- 
ther fulfilment,  by  our  Lord's  coming  again  in  thathu-* 
man  nature,  which  "  it  Moved  heaven  to  receive,  until 


a  Source  of  Confolation.  20 1 

the  times  of  the  reftitution  of  all  the  things  of  which 
God  fpake  by  the  rnouth  of  his  holy  prophets,  fmce 
the  world  began."  Then  he  who  went  to  prepare  a 
place  for  his  difciple^  and  all  his  fubfequent  followers, 
will  come  again,  and  receive  them  to  himfelf  ;  that 
where  he  is,  there  they  may  be  alfo.  Then  they  who 
were  troubled  for  their  adherence  to  his  caufe,  fliall 
enter  into  reft  ;  when  the  Lord  Jefus  fliall  be  reveal- 
ed from  heaven.  At  that  fame  period,  will  he  take 
vengeance  on  them  who  know  not  God,  and  who  obey 
not  the  gofpel  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  punifti 
them  with  everlafting  de(tru£Hon ;  when  he  fliall 
come  to  be  glorified  in  his  faints,  and  admired  in  all 
them  who  believe.  For  God  will  bring  with  him 
them  who  now  fleep  in  Jefus,  while  the  believers  who 
remain,  at  that  time,  alive  upon  earth,  fliall  feel  a 
change  pafs  upon  their  bodies,  to  reader  them  like 
thofe  who  are  newly  raifed  from  the  dead,  and  all 
"  fliall  be  caught  up  together  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the 
air,  and  fo  fliall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lord.  Where- 
fore," fays  Paul,  u  comfort  one  another  with  thefe 
words."  He  who  teftified  thefe  things  to  his  difciples, 
while  he  was  yet  with  them,  repeated  his  promife  long 
afterwards,  to  his  fervarit  John,  faying,  "  Surely,  I 
come  quickly."  May  we  unite  with  that  beloved  dif- 
ciple,  in  faying,  «  Amen.    Even  fo  come,  Lord  Jefus." 

And  now,  my  brethren,  if  this  aflurance  was  fuffi- 
cient  to  relieve  the  minds  of  the  Apoftles,  when  they 
loft  the  bodily  prefence  of  their  Divine  Mailer,  may  we 
not  fafely  proceed 

Secondly,  To  apply  the  fame  confolation  to  the  re- 
lief of  thofe  who  are  mod  affe&ed  by  the  late  bereav- 
ing providence. 

^  This  Church  has  loft  a  moll  diligent,  faithful,  affec- 
tionate and  valuable  Paftor ;  and  far  be  it  from  me  to 
S  make 


io2  37*  Prefnee  of  Chrift 

make  light  of  your  lofs.  All  thofe  churches  who 
knew  him  only  by  occafional  vifits,  all  good  men  who 
had  any  opportunity  of  appreciating  his  worth,  mult 
fympathize  with  you  \  while  they  grieve  to  think  that 
they  themfelves,  who  faw  his  face  fo  feldom,  fhall  fee 
it  no  more.  His  brethren  in  the  miniftry,  who  enjoy- 
ed the  pleafure  and  advantage  of  his  friendfhip  and 
correspondence,  feel  a  lofs  which  they  will  ever  de- 
plore. How  then  mud  you  regret  his  removal,  who 
were,  many  of  you,  the  feals  of  his  miniftry  ;  who, 
all  of  you,  hoped  long  to  enjoy  his  conftant  labours  \ 
and  for  whofe  welfare  he  laid  himfelf  out,  with  fuch 
unremitting  afliduity  ?  The  Paftor  whofe  abfence  you 
mourn,  pofiefied  fuch  an  afiemblage  of  lovely  graces 
and  acceptable  qualifications,  as  arc  found  united  but 
feldom,  even  in  truly  Chriftian  mfnifters.  He  had  the 
firmed  attachment  to  evangelical  truth,  and  the  moft 
conftant  regard  to  practical  godlinefs  ;  he  united  re- 
markable found nefs  of  judgment,  with  uncommon 
warmth  of  affections.  I  never  faw,  at  leaft  in  one  of 
his  years,  fuch  active,  ardent  zeal,  conjoined  with  fuch 
gentlenefs,  modefty  and  deep  humility ;  fo  much  of 
the  little  child,  and  fo  much  of  the  Evangel ift,  I  can 
fcarcely  forbear  faying,  of  the  Apoftle  of  Jefus  Chrift. 
I  know  not  how  to  flatter  ycu,  with  the  hope  of  obtain- 
ing another  minifter  •,  or  myfelf,  with  the  expectation 
of  finding  another  friend,  in  whom  aY/thefe  charming 
qualities  fhall  be  found,  in  an  equal  degree.  He  was, 
indeed,  u  a  burning  and  a  finning  light,  and  we  rejoi- 
ced in  his  light,  for  a  feafon  jM  but  now  we  muft  la- 
ment, that  he  fhines  no  more  on  earth  ;  though  we 
doubt  not,  that  he  fhines  like  the  fun,  in  the  kingdom 
of  his  Father. 

While  he  abode  among  us,  his  affections  were  evi- 
dently and  eminently  in  heaven  ;  his  work,  his  fami- 
ly, and  his  people,  were  the  only  objects  of  regard, 
which  made  him  willing  to  forego  the  blifs  of  the  eter- 
nal 


a  Source  of  Confolation.  203 

nal  world.  And  when  he  perceived  that  it  was  the 
Lord's  will  he  ihould  depart,  your  welfare  was  (till  hi* 
chief  concern.  For  your  confolation  and  benefit,  he 
wiilied  this  paflage  to  be  confidered  at  his  funeral. 
lie  once  alluded  to  another  fcripture,  but  laying  that 
afide,  left  it  fhould  occafion  too  much  being  faid  of 
himfelf,  he  fixed  upon  this  *,  remarking,  "  If  he  corner 
to  you,  all  will  be  well,  you  xiQcd  not  regret  my  rei 
val."  So  you  fee,  brethren,  the  defign  of  your  dear  Paf- 
tor  was  to  encourage  you  to  claim  a  (hare  in  the  prom- 
ifed  prefence  of  the  Redeemer  -,  which  he  knew  ex- 
tended to  ail  his  churches,  and  to  every  individual 
liever.  He  perceived  that  he  was  going  to  leave  you, 
he  could  not  promife  to  come  again  to  you,  though  it 
was  his  great  confolation  to  hope  that  you,  in  fucceilior, 
will  follow  him  \  and  meanwhile,  the  prefence  of  his 
great  Matter,  as  to  his  divine  nature,  and  the  increaf- 
ing  influence  of  his  Spirit,  would  be  a  fu  indent  corn- 
penfation  for  any  lofsyou  could  fuftain  by  his  departure. 
The  fpiritual  prefence  oi  Chrift  could  ma.ke  up  for  the 
want  of  his  bodily  prefence,  to  thofe  who  knew  what 
it  was  to  enjoy  the  latter  $  it  maft  then  alTuredly  be 
fuflicient  to  fupply  .the  abfence  of  any  under- fhephent. 
With  this  thought  my  dear  brother  confoled  himfelr, 
in  the  beginning  of  his  illnefs  ;  "  If,"  laid  he,  in  a  let-* 
ter  written  the  firft  Lord's  day  that  he  was  confined 
from  public  worfhip,  "  if  I  am  to  depar:  hence,  to  be 
no  more  feen,  1  know  the  Lord  can  carry  on  his  caufe 
as  well  without  me  as  with  me  ;  he  who  redeemed  the 
foeep  with  his  blood,  will  never  fufferthem  to  perifli 
for  want  of  Ihepherding,  efpecially,  fines  He  himitif 
is  the  chief  Shepherd  of  fouls.'' 

Let  me  therefore  attempt  to  afiift  you  by  dire&ing 
your  attention  to  the  grounds  on  which  you  may  fafe- 
ly  expert  the  fulfilment  of  the  promife,  the  magni- 
tude of  the  promife  itfelf,  and  the  confequent  obliga- 
tions under  which  you  are  laid  by  it. 

i.     Confider 


204  The  Preface  of  Chrijl 

I.  Confider  the  ground  on  which  you  may  fafcly 
build  an  exptclahon  that  our  Lord  Jcfus  will  come  unto 
you. 

Our  Lord's  ability  to  make  good  fitch  a  promt/?,  muft 
here  bz  noticed.  Not  only  had  he  an  inherent  power 
to  la  his  life,  and  to  take  it  up  again,  in  confe- 

quei  Inch  he  fpent  forty  days  with  his  difciplcs, 

befc.  fcenfion  ;  but  he   has  power  to  perform 

his  Handing  engagements  with  his  whole  church,  of 
being  ipith  tkem$  always  to  the  end  of  the  world,  when- 
ever, and  wherever,  two  or  three  are  gathered  together 
in  his  narrle  •,  which  promifes  muft  be  connected  with 
liable  you  to  claim  any  part  in  the  confo- 
will  adminifter.  Some  modern  enthufiafts, 
(who  can  believe  any  thing  which  does  not  imply  that 
they  are  (ogutity  as  to  need  the  incarnate  Son  of  God 
to  make  an  atonement  for  their  fins,  by  his  precious 
blood)  have  fancied  that  the  body  of  Jefus,  who,  ac- 
cording to  them,  was  a  mere  man  like  ourfelves,  af- 
cended  no  higher  than  the  atmofphere,  which  fur- 
rounds  the  earth,  and  that  he  occafionally  defcends 
from  thence  to  this  globe,  to  vifit  invifibly  and  one  at 
a  time,  the  various  congregations  of  Chriftians.  This 
idea,  it   has   been  faid,   "  cannot  poflibly    do  us   any 

m  '"  but,  alas  !  it  can  do  us  but  little  good.  Ix 
the  Saviour  fhould  thus  vifit  all  thofe  who  are  called 
by  his  name,  our  turn  to  be  fo  favoured  may  occur  but 
once  in  a  life-time  j  or  whether  they  who  have 'in- 
vented this  folution  of  Matt,  xviii.  20,  would  admit  us, 
:n  they  reprefent  as  irrational  idolaters,  to  enjoy 
any  (hare  in  his  vifits,  I  know  not.  Nor  would  it; 
be'of  confequence,  whether  it  were  granted  or  deni- 
ed ;  a  mere  man  furveying  us  invifibly,  now  and  then, 
could  impart  to  us  no  fpiritual  bleffing.  But,  if  our 
great  High-Pried  be,  indeed,  in  the  moft  exalted 
fenfe,  the   Son  of  God,  who   is   "  pajtd.  th 

thefe 

*  liiY.nw'bxx  Tc-jr  cvfzvcv?.     Hcb-  iv.  14.  vii.  iC.     Efh.  iv.  $t  i<x 


a  Source  of  Confolathn.  205 

thefe  lower  heavens,  and  is  «  made  higher  than  the 
heavens,"  having  "  afcended  up  far  above  all  heavens, 

that  he  might///  all  things?  (according  to  the  paffage 
which  we  heard  explained  this  morning*)  and,  if  "  all 
power  be  given  unto  him,  in  heaven  and  in  earth," 
tbett,  my  brethren,  your  faith  (lands  upon  a  firm  foun- 
dation. He  who,  when  he  was  upon  earth,  as  to  his 
humanity,  could  fpeak  of  himfelf  as  being  "  in  hea- 
ven ;"  can  as  eafily  grant  you  the  prefence  of  his 
Divinity,  now  his  human  nature  is  in  the  world  above* 

Let  the  extent  of  hi'  regard  to  his  church,  be  alfo  re- 
membered. In  his  lad  prayer  with  his  difciples,  ha 
prayed  not  alone  for  them  who  were  prefent,  but  for 
all  who  ihouid  believe  through  their  word.  And  "  he 
ever  livetb,  to  make  interceflion  for  fail  them,  who 
come  unto  God  by  him/'  In  every  age  hath  his 
church  been  the  objeel  of  his  gracious   regard:  and 

he 

*  By  brother  Weft,  of  Wanl 

f  trnryxptnw  wn§  eure*  Hcb  viii.  2  7.  Mr.  Bellham,  a  pro- 
feficd  advocate  of  rational  religion,  fnppofes  that  the  writers  of  the 
New-Teftament  tbemfelves,  annexed  no  very  djlinft.  idea  to  the  ftbrnfi 
of  Chrifl's  making  interceflion,  became  ;vmyw.v,  he  obferves,  ex> 
preiTes  any  interference  of  one  perfon  for  or  aga/nft  another,  h  is 
true,  that  in  the  Epiftle  to  the  Romans,  Paul  mentions  Chrift*s 
tns&itfg  intcrcejjim  FOR  us,  viii.  34  ;  and  Elijah's  making  intercrjpon 
AGAINST  IfraeL  xi  2  And  he  ufes  this  fame  verb,  but  with 
different  prepofitiens,  in  both  places.  But  can  any  ambiguity  strife 
from  employing  one  word,  with  prepofitions  of  oppofitc  import, 
to  denote  oppofite  things  ?  Will  not  the  things  thus  oppofed  rath- 
er illuftrate  each  other  ?  Errvyyzmn  TUF.P,  is  to  plead  /.r,  and 
E  -r/vav.iv  RATA,  to  plead  againf  :  the  latter  phrafe  is  repeatedly 
uf:d  in  the  Maccabees,  to  cxprefs  the  act  of  complaining  agai*jl,  bring* 
'ing  an  accufation  again/},  making  complaint  againjl  a  perfon  or  perfons, 
I  Mac.  viii.  32.  x.  or,  63.  xi.  25.  And  as  this  is  the  part  of  a 
profecutor  or  accufer,  fo  the  former  is  the  part  of  -an  advocate,  pat- 
ron, or  interceffor.  The  Jews  have  adopted  the  two  Greek  terms 
n*pa*x*T9r  an  advocate,  ufed  1  John,  ii  1.  and  KaTwyosor,  an  accufer, 
ufed  Rev.  xii.  10.  and  employ  both  in  the  Cha'.dee  paraphxafe  of  job 
xxxiii.  23.  "  an  Angel  is  prepared,  one  advocate  (.vj^p*:)  amor\g 
a  thoufand  accufers  (mnbaMDp*")  See  Outram  de  Sacrificiis.  i*iU» 
II.   Cap.   Vlt. 

S    Z 


2o6  Tbe  Prefence  of  Chrljt 

he  has  fulfilled  the'  pro mife -which  he  made  in  the  days 
of  Zechariah,  "  Lo,  I  come,  and  I  will  dwell  in  the 
midft  of  thee,  faith  Jehovah.  And  many  nations  mall 
be  joined  unto  Jehovah,  in  that  day,  and  ihall  be  rriv 
people^  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midft  of  thee,  and 
thou  (halt  know  that  Jehovah  God  of  Hofts  hath  I 
me  unto  thee." — To  the  primitive  church  under  all 
the  pagan  perfecutions,  was  this  promife  fulfilled  ;  to 
the  Waldenfes  and  Albigenles  in  the  darkeft  times  of 
Popery  \  to  the  firft  reformers  from  Antichriflian  error, 
and  to  their  fathful  fuccefibrs  •,  whether  conformifis 
or  non-conformifts  •,  in  this  IGand,  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  or  in  the  wilds  of  North- America.  And  a: 
this  day,  wherever  two  or  three  aflemble  in  his  name, 
at  Birmingham  or  at  Briftol>  in  London  or  at  Edin- 
burgh, in  Old  Holland  or  in  New  Holland,  at  Mud- 
nabatty,  or  at  Otaheite,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
or  in  Kentucky,  there  may  our  diftant  brethren,  as 
well  as  ourfelves,  expect  our  glorious  Lord  to  fulfil  his 
word;  /  ilU!  come  unto  you. 

The  exprefs promifes  he  has  made,  of  which  the  text 
is  one,  and  "we  have  recited  feveral  others,  forbid  us 
to  doubt  of  the  beftowment  of  this  invaluable  bleiT- 
ing.  Jefus  is  the  "  faithful  and  true  Witnefs ;  the 
fame  yefterday,  to-day  and  for  ever.  In  him  all  the 
promifes  of  God  are  yea,  and  in  him  Amen,  unto  the 
glory  of  God  by  us."— He  aiTured  his  fervant  Paul, 
in  a  feafon  of  peculiar  difficulty,  "  My  grace  is  fuffi- 
cient  for  thee  j"  and  the  grace  which  could  fuffice  for 
him,  who  accounted  himfelf  the  chief  cf  fainers,  and 
lefs'than  the  leafc  of  faints,  is  fufficient  for  us  alfq. 
His  ftrength  is  difplayed  to  the  greateft  advantage  in 
our  weaknefs.  O  remember  how  it  was  I  : 
played  in  the  weaknefs,  the  extreme  weaknefs,  A  your 
dear  dying  Paftor,  on  whom  the  power  of  Chnii  fo 
vifibly  refted.  When  his  heart  ana  flefli  were  failing, 
how  did  he  rejoice  in  God  his  Saviour,  as  the  ftrength 


a  Source  of  Confolathn.  2oy 

of  his  heart,  and  his  portion  for  ever  !  And  is  there  a 
mourner  prefent,  fo  feeble,  Co  difconfolate,  fo  bereav- 
ed o.  created  fourcfe  of  blifs,  as  that  this  grace 
not  fui'fice  for  her  fupport  ?  Or  will  he,  who  kept 
his  word*  with  fueh  "  punctilious  veracity"  to  the  Huf- 
band,  forget:  his  promife  to  the  Widow  and  the  Fath- 
erlefs?  Ailuredlyhe  will  not. 

Remember,  my  brethren,  the  rerdhifs  of  the  Re- 
deemer to  hear  and  enfwer  prayer. — Though  Paul  be- 
foughthioi  thrice  upon  ohe  fubje£f,  before  he  received 
sn  immediate  reply,  the  pomife  was  fulfilled  even  be- 
fore it  was  pronounced  ;  he,  like  one  who  lived  long 
before  him,  and  like  myriads  who  have  finee  made  trial 
of  the  fame  refou^ce,  was  "  ftrengthened  with  ftrength 
in  his  foul,"  before  the  Saviour  exprefsly  declared, 
'"  My  ftrcngth  is  made  perfect  in  weaknefs."  Continue 
Therefore  imtant  in  pr.  Lememher  the  apparent 

reburls  encountered  at  firft  by  the  woman  of  Canaan, 
and  how  amply  her  faith  was  antV/ered  at  lait.  Did 
not  Jefus  inculcate  this  maxim,  "  that  men  ought  al- 
ways to  pray,  and  not  to  faint  j"  and  fpake  a  parable  to 
illiterate  arid  enforce  that  duty  ?  Rich  bleffings,  I  truft, 
are  (till  in  referve  for  you,  in  anfwer  to  the  many  fer- 
vent petitions,  which  your  dear  Patter  offered  up  on 
your  behaif,  from  the  time  of  his  firft  acquaintance 
with  this  Church,  and  during  better  than  nine  years,* 
wherein  he  has  more  fully  undertaken  the  overfight 
of  you  in  the  Lord.  May  you  yourfelves  pray  with- 
out ceafing,  and  plead  with  the  Lord  his  own  exceed- 
ing great  and  precious  promifes,  which  will  be  found 
to  contain  bleflings  fully  proportioned  to  ail  your  ne- 
cellules. 

It  was  doubtiefs  in  confequence  of  many  comforta- 
ble evidences  >  that  God  has  a  number  of /pi  ritual  war/bip- 
pers  among  you,  that  my  dear  brother  was  encour- 
aged 
**  He  was  ordained  Augufl,  1790* 


208  The  Prefence  of  Chrift 

aged  to  exped  this  declaration  would  be  certainly  ful- 
filled in  your  prefent  circumftances.  But  though  I 
gladly  indulge  a  fimilar  confidence,  yet  neither  I,  whofe 
peribnal  knowledge  of  you  is  very  confined,  nor  he, 
whofe  acquaintance  was  much  more  intimate  and  gen- 
eral, could  anfwer  for  every  profefibr  among  you. 
From  ttrhat  lias  taken  place  in  all  the  large  congrega- 
tions I  have  known,  I  am  afraid  left  the  hopes  of  your 
Pallor  may  be  difappointcd,  as  to  fome  individuals, 
whom  he  never  fufpe&ed,  but  whole  future  ?pcftafy 
will  indicate  the  fuperficial  nrture  of  their  prefent 
profciTion,  and  enfure  them  a  final  portion  with  hyp- 
ocrites and  unbelievers.  Greatly  (hall  I  rejoice,  if  not 
one  fuch  character  liquid  ever  be  found  arrong  you  ^ 
but  to  render  the  confolation  in  the  text  more  certain 
in  its  peribnal  application,  I  mud  exhort  you  to  exam- 
ine and  prove  your  own  felves,  and  to  give  all  diligence 
to  make  your  calling  and  election  fure.  Unit  Is  you 
are  fuch  of  whom  God  difapproves,  Chrift  is  in  yen, 
the  hope  of  glory  ;  he  dwells  in  your  hearts  by  faith, 
and  you  begin  to  be  conformed  to  his  lovely  image. 
You  account  mental  nearnefs  to  God  the  chief  good* 
You  value  communion  with  him  above  all  the  world. 
Is  not  this  the  cafe,  my  brethren  ?  I  truft  you  can  fay 
with  the  Pfalmiit,  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee, 
and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  defire  befides  thee. 
Fear  not,  that  the  Lord  will  frustrate  the  defires  his 
own  Spirit  has  excited,  or  abandon  that  foul,  whofe 
wifhes  centre  wholly  in  himfelf. 

In  the  mean  while,  to  increafe  the  Intenfenefs  of  your 
defires  after  the  prefence  of  Chrift,  let  us  proceed  to 

confider 

2.     The  magnitude  of  the  promije* 

Has  Chrift  faid,  "I  will  come  unto  you  ?'r    and 
have  you  been  told  to-night  that  his  prefence  can  make 

up 


a  Source  of  GonfolatiorL  209 

up  every  lois  ?  Well  may  you  credit  the  affertion,  if 
you  confider  what  is  intended  by  the  promife  in  the 
text. 

It  imports  that  he  ivifi  rhamfsft  />  you  bis  glory. 
And  O  how  delightful  the  fi gin  !  «  Lord!"  faid  jude, 
"how  is  it  that  thou  wilt  martifeft  thyfelf  unto  us,  and 
not  unto  the  world  r"  This  exclamation  might  de: 
partial  .ignorance,  as  well  as  grateful  furprife  :  but 
the  fecret  was  in  great  meafure  explained,  v 
Spirit  was  poured  out  from  on  h  %hen  Paul  ob- 

ferved,  M  God,  who  commanded  the  light  to  fhine  out 
of  darknefs,  hath  mined  into  our  hearts,  to  give  the 
Jight  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God.  in  the  face 
of  Jefus  Chriit  :"  fo  that  while  others  have  "  their  un- 
derstandings darkened,  being  alienated  from  the  life  of 
God,  through  the  ignorance  which  is  in  them,  becaufe 
of  the  blindnefs  (or  rather  the  calbufnefsj*)  of  their 
hearts  ;  we  all,  with  open  face,  beholding,  as  in  a  wir- 
rctrs  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  charged  into  the  fame 
image,  from  glory  to  glory,  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord." 

If  the  Lord  grant  you  his  fpecial  prefence,  you  will 
not  only  realize  his  eiiential  and' mediatorial  glory, 
be  cheered  alfo  with  a  lively  'ftnfe 
what  confolation  can  equal  that  whit 
fuch  a  iburce  ?  "To  knov*  rife  love  cH  Chrift,  wl 
paffeth  knowledge,?  is  a  bl  h   the  Apoftlc 

confide  red  as  immediately  c  d  with  being  "fill- 

ed with  all  the  fulneis  of  God  ;"  arid  the  beilowment 
of  which  was  a  proof  that  he  is  "  able  tc  do  exceeding 
abundantly  above  ail  that  we  afk  or  thing."  Unlefs 
we  could  conceive  the  full  extent  of  the  happinefs  pro- 
duced by  the  redemption    of  Chru't  throughout  the 

whole 

*    ha  rm    -J   .-.v  F.fh   fv.   iS-   Tlxpcxrie,  con- 

crctio  quz^,  fit.     In  fcferis  Uteris  ,;.:r^.i  v.xfiix\   ^utfm  coi 

.   .'...  t,     'Sccfula.     Robert/in. 


2io  The  Prefence  of  Chrijt 

whole  empire  of  God  \  unlefs  we  could  comprehend 
the  length  of  eternity,  in  which  the  felicity  of  the  faved 
fhali  be  forever  increaGng,  as  fad  as  God  fhall  increafe 
their  capacity  of  enjoyment ;  unlefs  we  could  meafure 
the  loweil:  dtpths  of  hell,  from  whence  our  Saviour  has 
ranlbmed  us,  with  the  invaluable  price  of  his  blood  ; 
and  the  height  of  glory,  to  which  we  {hall  be  raifed  as 
the  reward  of  Immanuei's  obedience  ;  it  will  be  im- 
poilible  fully  to  conceive  the  greatnefe  of  his  love. 
However,  enough  may  be  known  to  convince  us  that 
his  favour  is  better  than  life,  and  to  fill  us,  even  in  the 
prefeht  ft.ue,  am  id  ft  all  our  outward  trials,  and  eveiv 
our  inward  confii&s,  with  joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of 
glory. 

Relief*,  that  if  Chrift  fliould  come  unto  you,  accord- 
ing to  tliis  gracious  pro  mile,  be  ivill  communicate  uni* 
jou%  more  largely,  the  fupply  of  his  Spirit.  And  fhall 
not  this  fit  you  for  every  duty,  fupport  you  under  every 
preiTure,  and  enfure  you  the  vicftory  over  every  fpiritu- 
al  enemy  ?  Yes,  my  beloved,  if  you  enjoy  much  of 
the  prefence  of  Jefus,  it  will  make  you  active  for  God, 
and  excite  you  to  every  geed  work.  You  will  not  be 
flothful  in  bufinefs,  but  fervent  in  fpirit,  ferving  the 
Lord.  You  will  aim  at  the  divine  glory  in  every  thing, 
even  in  all  your  civil  employments.  You  will  gladly 
confecrate  the  gain  of  your  merchandize  to  the  Lord, 
and  honour  him  with  your  fubftance.  It  will  rejoice 
your  foul  to  think  that  you  are  il  not  your  own,"  but 
"  bought  with  a  price,"  and  you  will  feel  yourfelves 
bound  to  "  glorify  God,  with  your  bodies,  and  with 
your  fpirits,  which  are  God's  ."  nor  can  you  forbear 
to  admit  his  claim  to  all  which  you  pofTefs  ;  for  "  the 
fiiver  is  mine  and  the  gold  is  mine,"  faith  the  Lord  of 
H}fts,  and  your  thankful  hearts  muft  fay,  Amen.  You 
will  wiih  to  inlcribe  on  all  your  property,  and  on  all 
your  iKenfiis  that  blefled  motto,  Holinefs  to  the  Lord 
The  prefence  of  Chrift  will  infpire  you  with  ardour, 

refolution 


a  Source  of  Confolatton.  1 1 1 

refolution  and  zeal,  to  promote  his  kingdom  among 
men*  You  will  not  let  your  Lord's-day  Schools  decline  ; 
nor  will  your  contribution  to  the  mission,  in  which 
you  flood  foremoft  fo  early,  now  be  fufrered  to  fall  off, 
becaufe  that  dear  man  is  goi>e  to  glory,  who  firft  ex- 
cited your  attention  to  thefe  good  works  ;  but  you  will 
remember  that  Chrift  himfelf  is  with  you,  who  walks 
among  his  golden  candlefticks,  to  notice  how  their 
light  fhineth  before  men,  to  the  honour  of  their  heav- 
enly Father. — If  you  fhould  meet  with  farther  trials, 
the  prefence  of  Jefus  will  fuffice  to  fupport  you  under 
the  crofs,  as  it  did  the  Apoftles,  and  primitive  Chrif- 
tians.  O  brethren  !  I  pray  you  may  live  as  feeing 
Him  who  is  invifible.  Remember  that  Chrift,  when 
upon  earth,  could  not  do  more  for  his  firft  difcipies, 
than  he  can  now  perform  for  you,  by  his  divine  pref-  : 

ence.      Ah  ! if  he  were  here,  in  his  glorified 

body,  .  .  or  even  in  the  lowly  form  in  which  he  ap- 
peared in  the  days  of  his  humiliation,  ....  if  he  oft- 
en called  upon  you,  ....  or  you  could,  at  any  time, 
refort  to  him  ...  or  if  he  lodged  at  your  houfe,  .... 
or  came  thither  as  often  as  he  vifited  the  houfe  of  Laz- 
arus, at  Bethany  ;  .....  would  you  not  then  con- 
fult  him  in  every  thing  ;  and  always  follow  his  good 
advice  ?  and  fear  no  confequences,  when  you  compli- 
ed with  his  directions  ?  And  do  you  believe  the  Di- 
vinity of  Chrift,  and  act  otherwife  now  ?  O  fhameful 
inconfiftency  !  Look  unto  Jefus.  Lookcff,  my  brethren, 
from  all  other  objects ;  from  all  falfe  confidences,  from 
all  difcouragements,  from  all  the  foaming  billows, 
which  threaten  to  fwallow  you  up,  unto  Jefus.  He  is 
above,  looking  down  upon  you.  He  is  at  hand,  ready 
to  aflift  you.  See,  how  he  ftretches  forth  his  arm  to 
fupport  you,  and  keep  you  from  finking  in  the  deep  wa- 
ters. Separate  from  him,  you  can  do  nothing  ;  but 
th*  weakeft  can  do  all  things,  can  bear  all  burdens, 
can  conquer  all  the  hofts  of  hell,  through  Chrift 
ftrengthening  him. 

If 


lit  "The  P  refer?  ce  cf  Chrijl 

If  you  are  thus  authorized  to^pe&  the  prefence  of 
Chrilt,  Will  he  not- take  you  wider  the  care  of  his  provi- 
dence. How  fvveet  is  the  idea  of  an  omniprefent  God  ! 
Not  a  local  Deity,  as  the  gods  of  the  heathen  were  fup- 
pofed  to  be,  even  by  their  own  worfhippers.  But  a 
God  afar  of,  as  well  as  at  hand.  Prefent  with  his  cap- 
tive fervants,  to  check  the  violence  of  the  fire,  and 
ft  op  the  mouths  of  lions,  in  favour  of  his  exiles  in  Bab- 
ylon, as  furely  as  ever  he  had  been  ready  to  hear  prayer 
in  his  temple  at  Jerufalem.  A  God  in  India,  as  well 
as  in  England.  Who  (hewed  himfelf  to  be  prefent 
with  his  fervant  Pearce  in  Birmingham,  to  make  all 
his  bed  in  his  ficknefs  :  and  was  at  the  fame  time  pref- 
ent, though  we  knew  not  where,  with  his  fervant 
Ward  and  his  companions;  whether  they  are  ftiJI  trav- 
eling the  mighty  ocean,  or  whether  the  Criterion  has 
reached  its  deli  red  haven.  Perhaps,  they  have  already 
met  with  Carey,  and  Thomas,  and  Fountain,  and  Jefus 
is  in  the  midfc  of  them,  while  they  are  praying  for  us 
in  Bengal.  Yes,  Alia  was  long  ago  reminded,  that 
cc  the  eyes  of  JeHoVaH  run  to  and  fro  throughout 
the  whole  earth,  that  he  may  (hew  himfelf  flrong  in 
the  behalf  of  them  whofe  hearts  are  perfect  towards 
Lim."  And  how  comfortable  is  it  to  reflect,  that  this 
attribute  cf  Deity,  and  every  other,  belongs  to  God 
the  Son,  as  well  as  to  God  the  Father.  The  hufband 
of  the  church  is  the  God  of  the  whole  earth.  Jefus 
has  ail  power  on  earth  as  well  as  in  heaven.  They, 
therefore,  who  "  feek  firft  the  kingdom  cf  God,  and 
his  righteoufnefs,"  (hall  find  a  all  things  added  unto 
them."  "  My  God,"  (fail  Paul  to  the  Philippians) 
cc  {hall  fuppiy  all  your  need,  according  to  his  riches  in 
glory,  by  Chvift  Jefus."  Cafl:  on  him,  therefore,  all 
your  care  :  he  careth  for  all  his  churches  ;  and  though 
you  know  net  which  way  to  lock,  he  can  find  another 
paitor  for  this  church,  to  repair  the  breach  that  death 
lias  made.  He  can  raife  up  friends  for  the  widow 
and  the  children  of  his  departed  fervant  •,    yea,   he 

himfelf 


a  Source  of  Confolatton.  213 

himfelf  will  be  their  guardian  and  defence.  A  father 
to  the  fatherlefs,  and  the  patron  of  the  widow,  is  God 
in  his  holy  habitation  •,  he  will  never  fail  them,  nor 
forfake  them. 

Finally,  The  prefence  of  Chrift,  with  his  people 
on  earth,  fhall  prepare  them  for  the  uninterrupted  enjoy- 
ment of  his  prefence  in  the  celeftial  ivorld.  He  himfelf 
will  be  with  you  walking  in  the  way,  and  the  foolifh 
{hall  not  err  therein.  He  will  guide  you  by  his  coun- 
fel,  and  afterwards  receive  you  into  glory.  One  of 
vou  after  another  fhall  follow  your  dear  Paflor,  per- 
haps before  the  end  of  this  year,  and  four  or  five 
next  year,  and  fo  on,  till  you  all  meet  again  in  that 
heavenly  city,  where  the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the 
Lamb>  are  the  temple  of  it ;  the  glory  of  God  doth  en- 
lighten it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof  5  and  the 
inhabitants  drink  of  the  pure  river  of  the  water  of 
life,  proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and  the 
Lamb  ;  and  there  fhall  be  no  mere  curfe,  but  the 
throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb  fhall  be  in  it :  and  his 
fervants  fhall  ferve  him,  and  they  fhall  fee  his  face, 
and  his  name  fhall  be  in  their  foreheads  ;  for  they 
fhall  be  completely  like  him,  when  they  fhall  fee  him 
as  he  is.  But  let  me  once  more  befeech  you  to  no- 
tice 

3.  The  confequent  obligations ,  under  which  you  are 
laid. 

Your  Lord  has  faid,  "  I  will  come  unto  you." 
Believe  him.  Take  him  at  his  word.  Piead  it  before 
his  throne  of  grace.  Prove  that  you  value  his  pre- 
fence above  every  thing.  Live  under  an  abiding  con- 
viction, that  without  it,  you  mult  be  comfortlefs,  not- 
withftanding  the  prefence  of  every  temporal  enjoy- 
meir  ith  it,  you  muft  be  happv,  even  under 

the  preflTure  of  every  earthly  calamity. 

T  Let 


214    '  The  Prefence  of  Chriji 

Let  then  the  expeEtation  that  this  promife  will  be  ac- 
complifhed,  moderate  your  farrows,  on  the  prefent  oc- 
cafion,  and  on  all  others,  and  direct  them  into  a  prop- 
er channel.  It  is  the  prefence  of  Chrift  which  con- 
stitutes the  perfected  felicity  of  our  dear  departed 
friend  :  But  Chrift  is  really  prefent  with  his  church 
upon  earfh  alfo  :  pray  for  more  faith  to  realize  that 
truth,  'arid  your  heaven  {hall  be  begun  below.  He 
has  faid,  "  If  any  one  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words  :  and  my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will 
come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him." 
And  what  is  the  lofs,  which  the  enjoyment  of  the 
prefence  of  Chrift,  and  of  his  Father,  cannot  com- 
penfate  ?  or,  what  is  the  affliction,  under  which  fel- 
lowfhip  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jefus 
Chrift,  will  not  confole  you  ? 

Let  this  promife  enhance  your  gratitude  for  pa  ft 
mercies,  and  your  folicitude  to  improve  thofe  which 
remain.  It  was  from  him,  who  afcended  on  high, 
after  defcending  into  the  loweft  parts  of  the  earth, 
and  who  received  gifts  for  men,*  that  our  dear  broth- 
er received  ail  his  minifterial  qualifications,  as  well  as 
every  Chriftian  grace  :  and  it  v/as  his  blefling  alone, 
which  rendered  him  fo  fuccefsful,  in  winning  fouls  to 
Chrift.  With  him  is  the  refidue  of  the  Spirit.  He 
has  yet  bleffings  in  (tore  to  communicate.  O  live  on 
his  fulnefs  !  Though  your  beloved  Paftor  is  gone,  I 
truft  that  the  benefit,  which  many  of  you  received 
from  his  miniftry,  will  never  be  loft.  Minifters  die, 
but  Jefus  lives  •,  and  his  word  endureth  forever. 
You  have  alfo  a  profpedl:  of  ftill  enjoying  his  ordi- 
nances. Lock  up  for  his  gracious  influence  to  attend 
them,  knowing  that  neither  is  he  who  planteth  any 
thing,  nor  he  who  watereth  #,  but  i:  is  Gcd  who  giv- 
eth  the  increafe.  M 

*  See  an  excrllent  Sermon  of  brother  Pearce's  on  Ephef.  iv.  ir. 
On  the  duty  of  Churches  to  regard  JMln'fiers  as  the  gift  of  Cbnjiy  at  Mr 

JBellber'd  Ordination,  1796. 


a  Source  of  Confolation. 


**5 


May  the  promifc  of  Chrift's  prefence   excite  your 
concern  to  prepare  for  his  coming.      Let  it  excite  your 
ilnds  againil  every  thing,  which  would  be  or- 
fenfive  to  your  blefled  Lord.     Chriftians,  Is  there  any 
thing  in  the  daily  courie  of  your  behaviour,  or  in 
management  of  your  families,  of  which  you  woul 
afhamed,  if  Chrilt  were  now  upon  earth  in  hti 
nature,  and  took  up  his  abode  with  you  ?    And 
you  truly  believe  his  Divinity,  and  not  be  at 
he,  whole  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire,  fliould  fee  fijch 
tranfaclions  ?  Do  you  not  believe  that  he  ever: 
the  reins  and  the  hearts  ?    and  has  he  not  faid, 
all  the  churches  (hall  know  it  ?    Behold,  he  cq 
frequently,  as  unexpected  as  a  thief:    Bleffed   i 
who  watchcth,  and  keepeth  his  garments,  left  he  v 
J,  and  they  fee  his  fliame. 


15  UT  now,  without  confining  myf 
to  the  immediate  language  of  the  text,  give  me  1 
to  addrefs  a  few  words,  by  way  of  a  more  genera/  im* 
provement  of  the  late  afflictive  providence,  both  to  the 
members  of  the  Church  ftatedly  aflembling  in  this 
place  of  worfhip,  and  the  Congregation  and  Strangers 
prefent. 

I  addrefs  myfelf  fir  ft  to  the  CHURCH.  You,  my 
brethren,  have,  within  thefe  ten  days,  fuftained  the 
lofs  of  a  very  affectionate  and  faithful  Paftor  ;  a 
young  and  active,  and  at  the  fame  time  an  able  and 
judicious  minifter  ;  who  had  approved  himfelf  among 
you  for  nine  or  ten  years,  and  whofe  labours  you 
hoped  to  enjoy  for  many  years  to  come.  But  he  is 
taken  away  in  the  midit  of  his  ufefulnefs,  having  buc 
juft  completed  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  age.  In 
fuch  a  trial,  you  have  room  to  mourn.  Jesus  wept. 
And  devout  men  made  great  lamentation  at  the  death 
of  Stephen. 

Yet 


2\6  The  Preface  of  Chriji 

Yet  forget  not  to  be  thankful,  that  ever  the  Lord 
raifed  up  fuch  a  minifter,  and  gave  you  the  chief 
benefit  of  his  labours.  It  was  the  kindnefs  of  Provi- 
dence that  fixed  him  in  this  place,  and  continued  him 
with  you  for  feveral  years.  You  have  reafon  to  blefs 
God  alfo>  that  he  did  not  run  in  vain,  nor  labour  in 
vain.  Blefs  the  Lord  for  giving  fo  many  feals  to  his 
miniftry,  and  for  enabling  him  to  live  fo  honourably, 
and  to  die  fo  triumphantly. 

And  now,  let  each  individual  examine  himfelf,  how 
far  he  profited  by  the  miniflrations  of  this  dear  fervant 
of  Jejfus  Chrift.  If  any  of  you  put  him  cut  of  his 
:e,  and  idolized  him  *,  let  fuch  learn  wifdom  in 
future,  and  fo  account  of  us,  as  only  the  ftewards  of 
the  myftcfics  of  Gcd.  If  any  undervalued  him,  let 
them  Cncerd  of  that  evil.       And  let  all  be 

J,  that  the  benefit  of  his  miniftry  may  not  die 
:  him.  Remember  the  interfiling  and  important 
truths  you  profeffed  to  receive  from  him.  Remember 
the  affe&ionate  and  earned  exhortations,  addrefled  to 
you  by  him,  from  this  pulpit.  Remember  the  c 
iiitent  and  lovely  example  which  he  fet  before  you  ; 
and  the  evidence  of  the  truth  of  religion,  and  the  dif- 
play  of  the  faithfulnefs  of  God,  which1  was  made 
by  his  fupports,  under  his  painful  and  protradled 
affiiclion. 

Confider,  beloved,  your  duty  to  his  Family^  ?nd 
GieW  the  fincerity  of  your  regard  for  your  late  dear 
or,  by  your  tender  fympathy  with  his  diftrefled 
Widow,  and  the  fubftantial  tokens  of  your  affe&ion 
to  his  jive  fatherlefs  Children,  whofe  tender  years- 
prevent  them  from  forming  any  adequate  conception 
of  their  unfpeakable  lofs.  May  all  the  friends  of  the 
deceafed,  bear  them  and  their  afrlicled  mother  on 
their  hearts  before  the  Lord  ;  remembering  how  ef- 
fential  a  part  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion  it  is,  to 

pay 


a  Source  cf  Confolation.  217 

pay  kind  attention  to  the  orphan  and  the  widow  in 
their  affliction  •>  and  accounting  it  an  honour  to  imi- 
tate and  fubfervc  that  glorioas  Being,  in  whom  the 
fatherlefs  fimleth  mercy,  and  who  encourages  the  def- 
oiaie  widow  to  put  her  truft  in  him. 

My  dear  brethren,  forget  not  your  duty  to  one  another 
alfo,  in  this  feafon  of  trial.  While  thus  deprived  of 
a  paftor,  to  take  the  overfight  of  you  in  the  Lord, 
watch  over  each  other  the  more  carefully  in  love. 
Forfake  not  the  aflembling  of  yourfelves  together,  but 
(land  fait  in  the  Lord.  Strengthen  the  hands  of  your 
deacons,  at  a  time  when  the  concerns  of  the  church  lie 
the  heavier  upon  them,  in  (lead  of  indulging,  as  fome- 
times  the  cafe  has  been  in  other  churches,  a  fpirit  of 
groundleis  jealoufy,  refpe£ting  thofe  whom  you  your- 
felves have  called  to  that  office,  and  who  have  ihewn 
a  conscientious  and  upright  regard  for  your  welfare. 

In  looking  out  for  a  minifter,  I  truft,  you  will  be 
careful  to  feek  one  of  the  fame  itamp  with  my  late 
dear  brother  •,  one,  who  will  guide  you  in  the  true 
narrow  way,  and  guard  you  from  error  on  the  r: 
hand  and  on  the  left  -,,  who  will  warn  you  against 
every  fentiment  which  would  difhonour  God's  moral 
government,  as  well  as  faithfully  oppofe  whatever  notion 
would  difparage  the  riches  of  his  glorious  grace.  lri:y 
you  choofe  a  man  equally  zealous  againft  felf-right- 
eoufnefe,  and  againft  felf-indulgence  ;  who  will 
preach  falvation  by  Chrift  alone,  and  iftfift  on  deliver- 
ance from  the  power  and  love  of  fin',  as  a  moil  ettontial 
part  of  that  falvation.  May  God  direct  you  to  a  min- 
ifter, who  thai!  anfwer  to  the  description  given  by  Paul 
of  himfelf  and  his  fellow  labourers,  "  We  preach 
Chrift  in  you  the  hope  of  glory,  warning  every  man, 
and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wifdom  ;  that  we  may 
prefeat  every  man  perfect  in  Chrift  Jefus."  May  hs 
be  able  to  appeal  to  you,  on  his  death  bed>  in.  the 
T  %  word^ 


aifl  The  Prefence  of  Chrijl 

words  of  the  fame  Apoftle,  "As  we  were  allowed 
of  God  t3  he  put  in  trait  with  the  gofpel,  fo  we  fpake, 
net  as  pleafing  men,  but  God,  who  trieth  our  hearts  : 
not  ufmg  flattering  words,  as  ye  know,  nor  a  cloak  of 
coveroufnefs,  God  is  witnefs  ;  nor  feeking  glory  of 
men  ;  but  we  were  gentle  among  you,  even  as  a  nurfe 
cherifheth  her  children  ;  fo,  being  affectionately  defir- 
ous  cf  you,  we  were  willing  to  have  imparted  unto 
you,  not  the  gofpel  of  God  only,  but  alfo  our  own 
fouls,  becaufe  ye  were  dear  unto  us.  Ye  are  witneff- 
es,  and  God  alfo,  how  holily,  and  juftly,  and  how  un- 
blarneably  *we  behaved  ourfelves  among  you  who  be- 
lieve :  as  ye  know,  how  he  exhorted,  and  comforted, 
and  charged  every  one  of  you,  as  a  father  his  children, 
that  ye  fhould  walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath  called 
you  unto  his  kingdom  and  glory."  Such  a  protefta- 
lion>  I  am  confident,  your  late  beloved  Paftor  might 
have  fafdy  made,  and  I  pray  God,  his  fucceffor  may 
be  aflifted  to  imitate  the  fame  primitive  example,  and 
find  a  correfponding  teftimeny  in  the  confeience  of 
every  unprejudiced  hearer. 

At  the  fame  time,  let  me  exhort  you,  my  brethren, 
to  manifeft  genuine  Chrifilan  candour  in  your  choice  of 
another  minifter,  and  in  all  your  fubfequent  conduct 
towards  him.  If  he  fhould  not  equal  his  predeceifor 
in  the  popularity  of  his  talents,  the  readinefs  of  his 
utterance,  or  in  every  amiable  qualification  of  ftill 
higher  importance,  yet  if  his  heart  be  evidently  de- 
voted to  God,  do  not  defpife  him,  nor  undervalue 
him  ;  but  pray  for  him,  encourage  him,  ftrengthen 
his  hands  in  God.  Make  him  not  an  offender  for  a 
word,  nor  for  the  want  of  a  word.  And  do  not  mag- 
nify fuch  infirmities  as  are  common  to  the  beft  cf  men 
in  this  date  of  imperfection. 

Endeavour,  brethren,  to  he  unanimous  in  your  choice. 
Let  none  oppofe  the   general  vote,  mereiy  to  fhew 

their 


a  Source  of  Confolation.  219 

uence,  or  affert  their  liberty.  Nor  Let 
others  refoive  upon  having  their  own  way,  becaufe 
they  have  a  fmail  majority  of  their  mind  :  but  en- 
deavour to  accommodate  one  another,  as  far  as  it  is 
poilible,  without  frorificing  truth  or  prudence.  Only 
be  fure  that  you  feek  a  pallor  that  is  a  holy  man  of 
God,  a  faithful  fervant  of  Jefus  Chrift,  who  will  nat- 
urally care  for  your  fouls. 

Finally,  beloved,  let  all  be  careful  to  walk  worthy 
cf  the  Lord,  in  the  practice  of  all  that  is  well-pleaf- 
ing  in  his  fight.  And  let  it  appear  that  God,  by  tak- 
ing your  late  dear  minifter  to  heaven,  has  drawn  you 
nearer  to  heaven.  Remember  that  Chrift  is  now  to 
the  midil  of  you,  and  that  you  hope  foon  to  be  with 
hirn  in  his  kingdom,  and  to  live  and  reign  with  him 
for  ever.  What  manner  of  perfons  ought  you  then 
to  be,  in  all  holy  converfation  and  godiinefs  ! 


W  HAT  I  have  faid  to  the  members  of  the 
churchy  will,  for  the  mod  part,  apply  to  fuch  of  the 
Jiated  CONGREGATION,  as  are  partakers  of   the 
grace  of  God. 

But  there  are  fome,  who  conftantly  attended  my  dear 
brother's  miniftry,  who  are  left  unconverted.  O 
what  (hall  I  fay  to  them  !  I  earneftly  pray,  that  they 
who  heard  him  in  vain  while  alive,  may  hear  him 
now  he  is  dead,  fo  as  to  bz  made  alive  themfelves, 
For,  being  dead,  he  yet  fpeaketh.  The  hiftory  which 
all  his  friends  can  give  you,  of  his  life,  and  of  his 
death,  (his  blefied  death  !)  proclaims  to  you,  the  truth 
and  excellence  of  the  gofpel.  Do  not  you  alfo  re- 
member that  fhort,  but  molt  aff_ cling  addrefs,  which 
he  made  to  you,  the  laft  time  he  afcended  this  pulpit, 
after  brother  Franklin  of  Coventry  had  been  preach. 

ingf 


220  The  Prefence  of  Chrift 

ing  ?  Then  he  told  fome,  that  his  highefl  comfort, 
amidft  the  fymptoms  of  approaching  diflblution,  which 
he  then  exhibited,  was  the  expectation  of  meeting 
them  in  heaven  ;  while  he  forewarned  others  of  you, 
that  his  greateft  anxiety  arofe  from  his  fear  of  being 
obliged  to  witnefs  agalnft  you,  as  defpifers  and  reject- 
ers of  the  glorious  Redeemer.  O  that  the  recollec- 
tion of  that  dying  warning,  enforced  by  all  his  own 
happy  experience  in  fucceeding  months  of  fuffering 
and  iuperabounding  confolation,  might  convince  you 
of  the  vaft  importance  of  true  religion,  of  the  un- 
fpeakable  worth  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  and  of  the 
bleflednefs  of  being  interefted  in  his  great  falvation, 
and  obtaining  an  inheritance  among  them  who  are 
fanctified,  through  faith  in  him. 

Many  may  expeft,  efpecially  thofe  who  are  gran- 
gers,  to  hear  a  char  after  of  the  deceafed  ;  but  he  chofe 
this  text  to  avoid  much  being  faid  of  himfelf,  and 
though  I  mould  not  fcruple  introducing  whatever  might 
tend  to  honour  divine  grace,  and  tox promote  your  edi- 
fication, yet  I  am  unable  to  enter  into  a  particular 
biographical  detail  at  this  time.  And  as  to  his  char- 
acter, thofe,  who  knew  him  well,  need  not  my  delinea- 
tion of  it,  to  make  them  remember  it  with  high 
efteem,  to  their  dying  day  ;  while  others  might  fuf- 
pe&  me  of  flattery,  if  I  faid  but  the  half  of  what  I 
cordially  believe.  One  thing  I  will  fay,  which  I 
could  fay  of  very  few  others,  though  I  have  known 
many  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  That  I  never  faw, 
or  heard  of  any  thing  refpecling  him,  which  grieved 
me,  unlefs  it  was  his  inattention  to  his  health,  and 
that  I  believe  was  owing  to  a  miftaken  idea  of  hi3 
conftitution.  If  any  of  you  know  of  other  faults  be- 
longing to  him,  be  careful  to  fhun  them  ;  but  O  be 
fure  to  follow  him,  wherein  he  was  a  follower  cf 
Chrift. 

While 


a  Source  of  Confolation.  il\ 

While  his  outward  conduct  was  remarkably  blame- 
lefs  and  exemplary,  he  evidently  had  a  deep,  abiding, 
humbling  fenfe  of  the  evil  of  fin,  of  his  own  native 
depravity,  and  remaining  finfulnefs  •,  of  his  abfolute 
need  of  Chrift  as  an  atoning  facrifice,  and  the  Lord 
his  righteoufiiefs  ;  and  of  the  love  of  the  Spirit,  and 
the  importance  of  his  work  as  a  fanctifier. — He  lived 
a  life  of  faith  on  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  as  the 
blefled  Mediator,  who  had  loved  him  and  given  him- 
felf  for  him  ;  and  as  Chrift  was  alKn  ail  to  him, 
his  joy  and  his  gain,  in  life  and  in  death,  fo  he  took 
great  delight  in  preaching  Chrift  to  others,  as  the  on- 
ly and  all-furficient  Saviour  ;  he  earneftly  longed,  had 
it  been  permitted  him  by  Providence,  to  have  preach- 
ed Chrift  to  the  heathen,  and  would  have  been  glad  to 
have  carried  the  tidings  ox  falvauoii  by  his  blood>  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth. 

But,  initead  of  giving  a  fuller  account  in  my  own 
words,  I  will  give  all  ftrangers  the  means  of  forming 
a  juft  idea  of  the  man,  and  of  the  nature  of  his  re- 
ligion, by  reading  fome  of  his  letters,  written  three  of 
them  to  myfelf,  and  two  to  the  officers  of  this  church, 
at  different  periods  of  his  long  illnefs  j  to  which  I 
(hall  add  a  few  dst-iced  fentences,  uttered  nearer  the 
clofe  of  his  life,  and  taken  down  by  his  neareft  rela- 
tive. 

Thefe  will  tend  more  to  your  edification  who  know 
the  Redeemer,  and  more  to  the  conviction  of  thofe 
who  know  him  not,  than  any  ftudied  panegyric. 

May  they  excite  all  prefent  to  pray  from  the  heart, 
Let  me  live  the  ltfey  as  well  as  die  the  deaths  of  the 
righteous  \  may  the  commencement  of  my  profeflion,  and 
my  latter  end  be  like  his.      Amen  and  Amen. 

THE 


222  Letters  and  Narrative. 

THE    FOLLOWING 

LETTERS  and  NARRATIVE 

Were  reaj  before  the  concluding  paragraph  of  the  Sermo^, 

To  Dr.    RYLAND. 

Birmingham,  Dec.   9,    I/Q& 
lly  dear  Brother,  Lord's-Day  Evening. 

x\FTER  a  Sabbath — fuch   a   one   I    never 

knew  before fpent  in  an  entire  fecluilon  from  the 

houie  and  ordinances  of  my  God,  I  feek  Chriftian 
converfe  with  you,  in  a  way  in  which  I  am  yet  per- 
mitted to  have  intercourfe  with  my  brethren.  The 
day  after  I  wrote  to  you  laft,  my  medical  attendant 
laid  me  under  the  ftri£teft  inju n£lions  not  to  fpeak 
again  in  public  for  one  month  at  leaft.  He  fays  that 
my  ftomach  is  become  fo  irritable,  through  repeated 
inflammations,  that  converfation,  unlefs  managed  with 
great  caution,  would  be  dangerous ; — that  he  does  not 
think  my  prefent  condition  alarming,  provided  I  take 
reft,  but  without  that,  he  intimated  my  life  was  in 
great  danger.  He  forbids  my  expofing  myfelf  to  the 
evening  air,  on  any  account,  and  going  out  of  doors, 
or  to  the  door,  unlefs  when  the  air  is  dry  and  clear, 
fo  that  I  am,  during  the  weather  we  now  have  in 
Birmingham,  (very  foggy)  a  complete  prifoner  -,  and 
the  repeated  cautions  from  my  dear  and  afFcftionate 
friends,  whofe  fclicitude,  I  conceive,  far  exceeds  the 
danger,  compel  me  to  a  rigid  obfervance  of  the  Doc- 
tor's rules. 

This 


Let; en  and  Narrative.  223 

This  morning  brother  Pope  took  my  place ;  and  in 
the  afternoon  Mr.  Brewer,  who  has  difcovered  uncom- 
mon tendernefs  and  refpecft  for  me  and  the  people, 
fince  he  knew  my  (late,  preached  a  very  affectionate 
fermon  from  1  Sam.  Hi.  1 8.  "  It  is  the  Lord,  let 
him  do  what  feemeth  him  good."  By  what  I  hear, 
his  fympathizing  obfervations,  in  relation  to  the  event 
which  occafioned  his  being  then  in  the  pulpit,  drew 
more  tears  from  the  people's  eyes,  than  a  dozen  fuch 
poor  creatures  as  their  paflor  could  deferve.  But  I 
have.  . . .  blefled  be  God  !  long  had  the  fatisfacftion  of 
finding  myfelf  embofomed  in  friendfLip  .  .  .  the  friend- 
fhip  of  the  people  of  my  charge  :    though  I  lament 

that  their  love  mould  occafion  them  a  pang but 

thus  it  is cur  heavenly  Father  fees  that,  for  cur 

mixed  c^aravftersj  a  mixed  (late  is  bed. 

I  anticipated  a  day  of  gloom,  but  I  had  unexpe&ed 
reafon  to  rejoice,  that  the  fhadow  of  death  was  turned 
into  the  joy  of  the  morning  ;  and  though  I  faid,  with 
perhaps  before  unequalled  feeling,  "  How  amiable 
are  thy  tabernacles  !"  yet  I  found  the  God  of  Zion 
does  not  neglect  the  dwellings  of  Jacob.  My  poor 
wife  was  much  affected  at  fo  novel  a  thing  as  leaving 
me  behind  her,  and  fo  it  was  a  dewy  morning ;  but 
the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  foon  arofe,  and  fhed  fuch 
ineffable  delight  throughout  my  foul,  that  I  could  fay, 
1  It  is  good  to  be  here? — Motive  to  refignation  and 
gratitude  alfo,  crowded  upon  motive,  till  my  judgment 
was  convinced,  that  I  ought  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord 
exceedingly,  and  fo  my  whole  foul  took  its  fill  of  joy. 
May  I,  if  it  be  my  Saviour's  will,  feel  as  happy  when 
I  come  to  die  !  When  my  poor  Sarah  lay  at  the 
point  of  death,  for  fome  days  after  her  firft  lying  in, 
toward  the  latter  days,  I  enjoyed  fuch  fupport,  and 
felt  my  will  fo  entirely  bowed  down  to  that  of  God, 
that  I  faid  in  my  heart,  i  I  (hill  never  fear  another 
trial — he    that  fuftained  me  amidft  this  flame,  will 

defend 


224  Letters  and  Narrative. 

defend  me  from  every  fpark  !'  and  this  confidence  I 
long  enjoyed. — But  that  was  near  ftx  years  ago,  and 
I  had  almoft  forgotten  the  land  of  the  Hermonites, 
and  the  hill  Mizar.  But  the  Lord  has  prepared  me 
to  receive  a  frefh  difplay  of  his  fatherly  care,  and  his 
(fhall  I  call  it  ?)  pun&ilious  veracity.  If  I  fhould  be 
raifed  up  again,  I  fhall  be  able  to  preach  on  the  faith- 
fulnefs  of  God  more  experimentally  than  ever.  Per- 
haps fome  trial  is  coming  on,  and  I  am  to  be  inftru- 
mental  in  preparing  them  for  it :  Or  if  not,  if  I  am  to 
depart  hence  to  be  no  more  feen,  I  know  the  Lord  can 
carry  on  his  work  as  well  without  me  as  with  me. 
He  who  redeemed  the  fheep  with  his  blood,  will  never 
fuffer  them  to  perifh  for  want  of  fhepherding,  efpe- 
cially  fmce  he  himfelf  is  the  chief  Shepherd  of  foul& 
But  my  Family  I  Ah,  there  I  find  my  faith  but  flill 
imperfedt.  However,  I  do  not  think  the  Lord  will 
ever  take  me  away,  till  he  helps  me  to  leave  my  fath- 
erlefs  children  in  his  hands,  and  truft  my  widow  alfo 
with  him.  "  His  love  in  times  part,"  and  I  may  add 
in  times  prefent  too,  "  forbids  me  to  think,  he  will 
leave  me  at  lajl>  in  trouble  to  fink." 

Whilft  my  weaknefs  was  gaining  ground,  I  ufed  to 
afk  myfelf,  how  I  could  like  to  be  laid  by  ?  I  have 
dreamed  that  this  was  the  cafe,  and  both  awake  and 
afieep,  I  felt  as  though  it  were  an  evil  that  could  not 
be  borne  : — hut  now,  I  find  the  Lord  can  fit  the  back 
to  the  burden,  and  though  I  think  I  love  the  thought 
of  ferving  Chrift  «t  this  moment  better  than  ever,  yet 
he  has  made  me  willing  to  be  ...  .  nothing,  if  he 
pleafe  to  have  it  fo  ;  and  now  my  happy  heart  "  could 
fing  itfelf  away  to  everlafting  blifs." 

O  what  a  mercy  that  I  have  not  brought  on  my  af- 
fliction by  ferving  the  devil.  What  a  mercy  that  I 
have  fo  many  dear  fympathizing  friends  !  What  a 
mercy  that  I  have  fo  much  dear  domellic  comfort  ! 
What  a  mercy  that  I  am  in  no  violent  bodily  pain  ! 

What 


Letters  and.  Narrative*  22$ 

What  a  mercy  that  I  can  read  and  write,  without  do- 
ing myfelf  an  injury  !  What  a  mercy  that  my  animal 
fpirits  have  all  the  time  this  has  been  coming  on, 
(ever  fince  the  laft  Kettering  meeting  of  minifters) 
been  vigorous — free  from  dejection  !  And,  which  I 
reckon  among  the  greateft  of  this  day's  privileges, 
what  a  mercy  that  I  have  been  able  to  employ  myfelt" 
for  Chrift  and  his  dear  caufe  to-day,  as  I  have  been 
almoft  wholly  occupied  in  the  concerns  of  the  (I  hope) 
reviving  church  at  Bromfgrove  •,  and  the  infant  church 
at  Cradley  !  O  my  dear  brother,  it  is  all  mercy,  is  it 
not  I  O  help  me  then  in  his  praife,  for  he  is  gpodf 
for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

Ought  I  to  apologize  fo*  this  experimental  chat 
with  you,  who  have  concerns  to  tranfact  of  fo  much 
more  importance,  than  any  that  are  confined  to  an  in- 
dividual ?  Forgive  me  if  I  have  intruded  too  much  on 
your  time — but  do  not  forget  to  praife  on  my  behalf 
a  faithful  God.  I  (hall  now  leave  room  againft  I 
have  fome  bufinefs  to  write  about — till  then,  adieu — 
but  let  us  not  forget,  that  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever 
and  ever,  and  will  be  our  guide  even  until  death* 
Amen.    Amen.     We  (hall  foon  meet  in  heaven. 

S.  P. 


To   Mr.   KING. 

Plymouth,  April  %l%  IJMf 

My  very  dear  friend  and  brother, 

1  HAVE  the  fatisfaclion  to  inform  you,  that 
at  length  my  complaint  appears  to  be  removed,  and 
that  I  am,  by  degrees,  returning  to  my  ufual  diet,  by 
which,  with  the  divine  blefling,  I  hope  to  be  again 
ftrengthened  for  the  difchsrge  of  the  duties,  and  the 
U  enjoyment 


ii6  Letters  and  Narrative. 

enjoyment  of  the  pleafures,  which  await  me  among 
the  dear  people  of  my  charge. 

I  am  indeed  informed  by  my  medical  attendant 
here,  that  I  {hall  never  be  equal  to  the  labours  of  my 
paft  years,  and  that  my  return  to  moderate  efforts 
muft  be  mad^  by  flow  degrees.  As  the  path  of  duty, 
I  defire  to  fubmit ;  but  after  fo  long  a  fufpenfion  from 
ferving  the  Redeemer  in  his  church,  my  foul  pants 
for  ufefulnefs  more  extenfive  than  ever,  and  I  long  to 
become  an  apoftle  to  thfc  world.  I  do  not  think  I 
ever  prized  the  minifterial  work  fo  much  as  I  now 
do.  Two  questions  have  been  long  before  me.  The 
firft  was,  Shall  I  live  or  die  ?  The  fecond,  If  I  live, 
how  will  my  life  be  fpent  ?  With  regard  to  the  form- 
er, my  heart  anfwered,  "  It  is  no  matter — all  is  well — 
for  my  own  fake,  I  need  not  be  taught  that  it  is  beft 
to  be  with  Chrift ;  but  for  the  fake  of  others,  it  may 
be  beft  to  abide  in  the  body — I  am  in  the  Lord's 
hands,  let  him  do  by  me  as  feemeth  him  beft  for  me 
and  mine,  and  for  his  caufe  and  honour  in  the  world  ? 
But  as  to  the  fecond  queftion,  I  could  hardly  reconcile 
myfelf  to  the  thoughts  of  living,  unlefs  it  were  to 
promote  the  intereft  of  my  Lord ;  and  if  my  diforder 
ihould  fo  far  weaken  me,  as  to  render  me  incapable 
of  the  miniftry,  nothing  then  appeared  before  me  but 
gloom  and  darknefs.  However,  I  will  hope  in  the 
Lord,  that  though  he  hath  chaftened  me  forely,  yet, 
fince  he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto  death,  fparing 
mercy  will  be  followed  with  ftrength,  that  I  may 
ihew  forth  his  praife  in  the  land  of  the  living.    ' 

I  am  ftill  exceedingly  weak  •,  more  fo  than  at  any 
period  before  I  left  home,  except  the  firft  week  of  my 
lying  by  ;  but  I  am  getting  ftrength,  though  flowly. 
It  is  impoflible  at  prefent  to  fix  any  time  for  my  re- 
turn. It  grieves  me  that  the  patience  of  the  dear  peo- 
ple fhould  be  fo  long  tried,"  j>ut  the  trial  is  as  great  on 

my 


Letters  and  Narrative*  227 

my  part  as  it  can  be  on  theirs,  and  we  muit  pity  and 
pray  for  one  another.  It  is  now  a  tafk  for  me  to 
write  at  all,  or  this  fhould  have  been  longer. 

S.  P. 


To  Mr.  POPE 

Plymouth,  May    24,   XTy?- 

1  CANNOT  write  much — this  I  believe  is 
the  only  letter  1  have  written  (except  to  my  wife)  G 
I  wrote  to  you  laft.  My  complaint  has  iffued  in  a 
confirmed,  flow,  nervous  fever,  which  has  wafted  my 
fpirits  and  firength,  and  taken  a  great  part  of  the  lit- 
tle fiefli  I  had  when  in  health  away  from  me.  The 
fymptorns  have  been  very  threatening,  and  I  have  re- 
peatedly thought  that  let  the  phyfician  do  what  he  will, 
he  cannot  keep  me  long  from  thofe  heavenly  joys,  for 
which,  bleflfed  be  God,.  I  have  lately  been  much  long- 
ing 5  and  were  it  not  for  my  dear  people  and  family ,  I 
fhould  have  earneflly  prayed  for  leave  to  depart,  and 
be  with  Chrift,  which  is  fo  much  better  than  to  abide 
in  this  vain,  fuffering,  finning  world. 

The  doftors,  however,  now  pronounce  my  cafe  very 
hopeful — fay  there  is  little  or  po  clanger — but  that  ail 
thefe  complaints  require  a  great  deal  cftlme  to  get  rid  of. 
U  feel  myfelf  on  precarious  ground,  but  quite  refign- 
ed  to  the  will  of  Him,  who,  unworthy  as  I  am,  con- 
tinues daily  to  "fill  my  foul  with  joy  and  peace  in 
believing."  Yes,  my  dear  friend  !  tiaw  my  foul  feels 
the  value  of  a  free,  full,  and  everlafting  falvation,  and 
what  is  more,  I  do  enjoy  that  falvation,  while  I  reft  all 
my  hope  on  the  Son  of  God  in  human  nature,  dying 
cm  the  crofs  for  me.     To  me  new,  health  or  ficknefs, 

pain" 


223  Letters  and  Narrative. 

pain  or  eafe,  life  or  death  are  things  indifferent.  I 
feel  fo  happy  in  being  in  the  hands  of  Infinite  Love,  that 
when  the  fevered  ftrokes  are  laid  upon  me,  I  receive 
them  with  pleafure,  becaufe  they  come  from  my  heav- 
enly Father's  hands  !  "  O  !  to  grace  how  great  a 
debtor,"  &c. 

To  Dr.   RYLAND. 

My  very  dear  brother,  Birmingham,  July  20,  1799. 

X  OUR  friendly  anxieties  on  my  behalf  de- 
inaftd  the  carlieft  fatisfa&iom  We  had  a  pleafant  ride 
ro  Newport  on  the  afternoon  we  left  you,  and  the  next 
day  without  much  fatigue  reached  Tewkfbury  ;  but 
tTie  road  was  fo  rough  from  Tewkfbury  to  Evefham,. 
that  it  wearied  and  injured  me  more  than  all  the  jolt- 
ing we  had  had  before  put  together.  However,  we 
reached  Alcefter  on  Wednefday  evening,  (topped  there 
a  day  to  reft,  and  laft  night  (Friday)  were  brought 
fafely  hither,  bteffed  be  God  !: 

I  find  myfelf  getting  weaker  and  weaker,  andfo  my 
Lord  inftructs  me  in  his  pleafure  to  remove  me  foon* 
You  fay  well,  my  dear  brother,  that  at  fuch  a  profpe£t, 
I  "  cannot  complain"  No,  bleffed  be  His  dear  name, 
who  filed  his  blood  for  me,  he  helps  me  to  rejoice,  at 
times,  with  joy  unfpeakable.  Now  I  fee  the  value  of 
the  religion  of  the  Crofs.  It  is  a  religion  for  a  dying 
finner.  It  is  all  the  molt  guilty,  the  moft  wretched 
€an  defire.  Yes,  I  tafte  its  fweetnefs,  and  enjoy  its  ful- 
nefs,  with  all  the  gloom  of  a  dying  bed  before  me. 
And  far  rather  wTould  I  be  the  poor  emaciated  and 
emaciating  creature  that  I  am,  than  be  an  Emperor, 
with  every  earthly  good  about  him  ....  but  with- 
out a  God  ! 

I  wa& 


Letters  and  Narrative.  229 

I  was  delighted  the  other  day,  in  re-perufing  the 
Pilgrim's  Progrefs,  to  obferve  that  when  Chrifian  came 
to  the  top  of  the  hill  Djfficufty,  he  was  put  to  fleep  in 
a  chamber  called  Peace.  Why  how  good  is  the  Lord 
of  the  way  tome  !  faid  I •,  I  have  not  reached  the  fum- 
mit  of  the  hill  yet,  but  notwithftanding  he  puts  me  to 
fleep  in  the  chamber  of  Peace  every  night,  .  .  .True,  it 
is  often  a  chamber  of  pain  ;  but  let  pain  be  as  formi- 
dable as  it  may,  it  has  never  yet  been  able  to  expel 
that  peace,  which  the  great  Guardian  of  Ifrael  has  ap- 
pointed to  keep  my  heart  and  mind  through Chrift  Jefus, 

I  have  been  labouring  lately  to  exercife  molt  love  to 
God  when  I  have  been  fufFering  molt  feverely  : — but, 
what  (hall  I  fay  ?  Alas,  too  often  the  fenfe  of  pain  ab- 
forbs  every  other  thought.  Tet  there  have  been  fea- 
fons  when  I  have  been  affected  with  fuch  a  delightful 
fenfe  of  the  lovelinefs  of  God  as  to  ravifh  my  foul  and 
give  predominance  to  the  facred  paffion. — It  was  nev- 
er till  to-day  that  I  got  any  perfonal  iiiftruction  from 
cur  Lord's  telling  Peter  by  ivhat  death  he  fhould  glorify 
God.  O  what  a  fatisfying  thought  is  it,  that  God  ap- 
points tliofe  means  of  diffolution  whereby  he  gets  mofl 
glory  to  himfelf.  It  was  the  very  thing  I  needed  \  for 
of  all  the  ways  of  dying,  that  which  I  moil  dreaded 
was  by  a  confumption  \  (in  which  it  is  now  highly 
probable  my  diiorder  will  iffue.)  But,  O  my  dear 
Lord,  if  by  this  death  I  can  moil  glorify  thee,  I  prefer  it 
to  all  others,  and  thank  thee  that  by  this  mean  thou 
art  haftening  my  fuller  enjoyment  of  thee  in  a  purer 
world. 

hftnlefs  (late  !  "  O  'tis  a  heaven  worth  dying  for  !" 
I  cannot  realize  any  thing  about  heaven,  but  the  pref- 
ence  of  Chrift  and  his  people,  and  a  perfect  deliver- 
ance from  fin,  and  I  want  no  more — I  am  uck  of  fin- 
ning— foon  I  mall  be  beyond  its  power.  "  O  joyful 
hour  !  O  Weft  abode  !  I  mall  be  near  and  like  my  God  !" 
U  %  I  only 


230  Letters  and  Narrative. 

I  only  thought  of  filling  one  fide— and  now  have 
not  left  room  to  thank  you  and  dear  Mrs.  Ryland  for 
the  minute,  affefrionate  and  conftant  attentions  you 
paid  us  in  BriftoL  May  the  Lord  reward  you.  Our 
hearty  love  to  all  around,  till  we  meet  in  heaven. 

•    Eternally  yours  in  Chrift, 

S.  R 

To  Dr.   RYLAND. 

Rfy  very  dear  Brother,  Birmingham^  Aug.  4,  17^9. 

Z>oras  Day  Evening* 

OTILL,  I  truft,,haftening  to  the  land  "  where 
there  (hall  be  no  more  curfe,"  I  take  this  opportunity 
of  talking  a  little  with  you  on  the  road,  for  we  are  fel- 
low-travellers, and  a  little  converfation  by  the  way 
will  notlofe  me  the  privilege  of  getting  firft  to  the  end 
of  my  journey. 

It  is  feventeen  years  within  about  a  week  fmce  I 
firft  actually  fet  out  on  my  pilgrimage  j  and  when  I 
review  the  many  dangers  to  which,  during  that  time,. 
I  have  been  expofed,  I  am  rilled  with  conviction  that 
I  have  all  along  been  the  care  of  Omnipotent  Love.  Ah 
ftpw  many  Pliables,  and  Timoroufes,  and  Talkatives 
have  I  feen,  while  my  quivering  heart  fakl,  "  Alas  !  I 
fliall  foon  follow  thefe  fons  of  apoftafy,  prove  a  dif- 
grace  to  religion,  and  have  my  portion  with  hypocrites 
at  laft." 

Thefe  fears  may  have  had  their  ufes — may  have 
made  me  more  cautious,  more  diftruftful  of  myfelf, 
and  kept  me  more  dependent  on  the  Lord.     Thus 

M  All  tkat  Tyc  met  has  work'fi  for  mj  good." 

With 


Letters  and'  Karratlve.  231 

h  what  intricacy,  to  our  view,,  and  yet  with. 
u-ha:  actual  ikilLand  goodnefs,.  does  the  Lord  draw  his 
is,  and  mark  out  cur  path  !  Here  we  wonder,  and 
complain — Soon  we  ihali  ail  agree  that  it  was  a  right 
path  to  the  city  oi  habitation  ;  and  what  we  now 
moftr  deeply  regret,  fhali  become  the  fubject  of  our 
warmed  piaifes*. 

I  am  afraid  to  come  back  again  to  life.  O  how  ma- 
ny dangers  await  me  !  Perhaps  I  may  be  overcome  of. 
feme  ileihiy  luft— perhaps  I  may  get  proud  and  indo- 
lent,, and  be  more  of  die  priefl  than  of  the  evangelift — 
furely  I  rejoice  in  feeling  my  outward  man  decay,  and 
having  the  fentence  of  death  in  myfelf.  _  O  what  prof-- 
peels  are  before  me  in  the  bleffed  world  whither  I  am 
going  !  To  be  holy  as  God  is  holy — to  hava  nothing  but 
holincfsin  my  nature — to  be  allured,  without  a  doubt, 
2nd  eternally  to  carry  about,  this  aflurance  with  me, 
that  the  pure  God  looks  on  me.  with  conflant  compla- 
cency, for  ever.blefies  me,  and  fays,  as  at  the  fint  cre- 
ation, u  It  is  very  good.!'  I  am  happy  now  in  hoping 
in  the  divine  purpofes  towards  me ;  but  I  know,  ana 
the  thought,  is  my  conftant  burden,  that  the  Being  T 
love  bed,  always  fees  fomething  in.  me  which  he  itifi- 
miely  hates.  "  O  wretched,  wretched  man  that  lam  I? 
The  thought  even  now  makes  me  weep,  and  who  cari 
help  it,  that  feriouily  reflects,  he  never  comes  to  God 
to  pray  or  praife,  but  he  brings  what  his  God  detefts 
along  with  him — carries  it  with,  him  wherever  he 
goes,  and  can  never  get  rid  of  it  as  long  as  he  lives  ? 
Come,  my  dear  brother!  will  you  not  ihare  my  j.oy, 
and  help  my  praife,  that  foon  I  (hall  leave  this  body  of 
fin  and  death  behind,  to  enter  on  the  perfection  of 
my  fpiritual  nature  ;  and  patiently  to  wait  till  this  nat- 
ural body  fhall  become  a  fpiritual  body,  and  fo  be  a  fit 
vehicle  for  my  immortal  and  happy  fpirit  ! 

But: 


£32  Letters  and  Narrative. 

But  I  muft  forbear — I  have  been  very  unwell  sH 
clay  5  but  this  evening  God  has  kindly  given  me  a  ref- 
pite— my  fever  is  low  and  my  fpirits  lire  cheerful,  fo  I 
have  indulged  myfelf  in  unbofoming  my  feelings  to  my 
dear  friend, 

S.  P. 

^^^^^:£<^^m^^^ 

MEMORANDA ; 

Taken  down  cccaftcnally  by  Mrs.  Pearce,  within  four  or 
Jive  weeks  cf  Mr.  Pearce*  s  death. 

XlE  once  faid,  c<  I  have  been  in  darknefs  two 
or  three  days,  crying,  O  when  wilt  thou  comfort  me  \ 
but  Jaft  night  the  mill  was  taken  from  me,  and  the 
Lord  {hone  in  upon  my  foul.  O  that  I  could  but 
fpeak,  I  would  tell  a  world  to  truft  a  faithful  God- 
Sweet  affliQion,  now  it  worketh  gtaryy  glary  I" 

Mrs.  P.  having  told  him  the  various  exercifes  of  hey 
mind,  he  replied,  "  O  truft  the  Lord,  if  he  lifts  up  the 
light  of  his  countenance  upon  you,  as  he  has  done  up- 
on me  this  day,  ail  your  mountains  will  become  mole- 
hills. I  feel  your  fituation,  I  feel  your  forrows ;  but 
he  who  takes  care  of  fparrows^  will  care  for  you  and 
my  dear  children." 

When  fcorching  with  burning  fevs^he  faid,  "  Hot 
and  happy." — One  Lord's  day  morning  he  faid, 
u  Cheer  up,  my  dear,  think  how  much  will  be  faid  to- 
day of  the  faithfulnefs  of  C*od.  Though  we  are  call- 
ed to  feparate,  he  will  never  feparate  from  you.  I 
wifh  I  could  tell  the  world  what  a  good  and  gracious 
God  he  is.  Never  need  they,  who  truft  in  him,  be 
afraid  of  trials.     He  has  promifed  to  give  ftrength  for 

the 


Letters  and  Narrative.  2,3$ 

the  day  ;  that  is  his  promife.  O  what  a  lovely  God  ! 
and  lie  is  my  God  and  yours*  He  will  never  leave  us- 
nor  forfake  us,  no,  never  !  I  have  been  thinking  that 
this  and  that  medicine  will  do  me  good,  but  what  have 
1  to  do  with  it  ?  It  is  in  my  Jefus's  hands  y  he  will  do 
it  all,  and  there  I  leave  it.  What  a  mercy  is  it,  I  have 
a  good  bed  to  lie  upon  ;  you,  my  dear  Sarah,  to  wait 
upon  me  ;  and  friends  to  pray  for  me.  O  how  thank- 
ful ihould  I  be  for  all  my  pains;  I  want  for  nothing  :. 
all  my  wifhes  are  anticipated..  G 1  have  felt  the  force 
of  thofe  words  of  David,.  "  Unlefs  thy  law,  (my  gra- 
cious God  !)  had  been  my  delights,  I  mould  have  per- 
illed in  mine  affliction."  Though  I  am  too  weak  to 
read  it,  or  hear  it,  I  can  think  upon  it,  and  O  how 
good  it  is  ! — I  am  in  the  beft  hands  I.  could  be  in,  in, 
the  hands  of  my  dear  Lord  and  Saviour,  and  he 
will  do  all  things  well.  Yes,  yes,  h«.  cannot  da 
wrong." 

One  morning-  Mrs.  P.  afked  him  how  he  fek  ? — 
"Very  ill,  but  unfpeakably  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  my 
dear  Lord  Jefus"  Once  beholding  her  grieving,  he 
faid,  "  O  my  dear  Sarah,  do  not  be  fo  anxious,  but 
leave  me  entirely  in  the  hands  of  Jefus,  and  think,  if 
you  were  as  wife  as  he,  you  would  do  die  fame  by  me. 
I£  he  takes-  me,  I  (hall  not  be  loft,  I  ihall  only  go  a  lit- 
tie  before  ;.  we  mail  meet  again,  never  to  part." 

After  a  violent  fit  of  coughing  he  faid,  "  It  is  all 
well ;  O  what  a  good  God  >s  he  !  It  is  done  by  him,, 
and  it  mud  be  well — If  I  ever  recover,  I  fhall  pity  the 
fick  more  than  ever,  and  if  I  do  not,  I  mall  go  to  ring 
delivering  love ;  fo  you  fee  it  will  be  all  well. — O  for 
more  patience  !  Well,  my  God  is  the  God  of  patience,, 
and  he  will  give  me  all,  I  need..  I  rejoice  it  is  in  my 
Jefus's  hands  to  communicate,  and  it  cannot  be  in  bet- 
ter. It  is  my  God  who  gives  me  patience  to  bear  all. 
his  will," 

When,. 


234  Letters  and  Narrative* 

When,  after  a  reftlefs  night,  Mrs.  P.  alked  him,  what 
fhe  fhould  do  for  him  ?  "  You  can  do  nothing,  but 
pray  for  me,  that  I  may  have  patience  to  bear  all  my 
Lord's  will." — After  taking  a  medicine  he  faid,  "  If  it 
be  the  Lord's  will  to  blcfs  it,  for  your  fake,  and  for  the 
fake  of  the  dear  children,  but  the  Lord's  will  be  done* 
O  I  fear  I  fid,  I  difhonour  God  by  impatience  \  but  I 
would  not  for  a  thoufand  worlds  fin  in  a  thought  if  I 
could  avoid  it."  Mrs.  P.  replied,  (lie  trufted  the  Lord 
would  ftill  keep  him  ',  feeing  he  had  brought  him  thus 
far,  he  would  not  defert  him  at  la  ft.  "  No,  no,"  he 
faid,  "  I  hope  he  will  not.  As  a  father  pitieth  his  chil- 
dren, fo  the  Lord  pitieth  them  that  fear  him.  Why 
do  I  complain  ?  My  dear  Jefus's  fuffe rings  were  much 
forer  and  more  bitter  than  mine  -,  And  did  he  thus  fuf- 
fer ami /hall  I  repine  !  No,  I  will  cheerfully  fuffer  my 
Father's  will." 

One  morning  after  being  afked  how  he  felt,  he  re- 
plied, u  I  have  but  one  fevere  pain  about  me  !  what  a 
mercy  !  O  how  good  a  God  to  afford  fome  intervals 
amfdii  fo  much  pain  !  He  is  altogether  good.  Jefus 
lives,  my  dear,  and  that  Bin  ft  be  our  ccnfoiation." — 
After  taking  a  medicine  which  operated  very  power- 
fully,-he  faid,  "This  will  make  me  fo  much  lower  5 
well,  let  it  be.  Multiply  my  pains,  thou  good  God, 
fo  thou  art  but  glorified,  I  care  not  what  I  fuffer  5  all  i& 
right." 

Being  alked  how  he  felt  after  a  reftlefs  night,  he  re- 
plied, "  I  have  fo  much  weaknefs  and  pain,  I  have  not 
had  much  enjoyment  my  but  I  have  a  full  perfuafion  that 
the  Lord  is  doing  all.  things  well.  If  it  were  not  for 
ftrong  confidence  in  a  lovely  God,  I  muft  fink;  but 
all  is  well.  O  bleffed  God,  I  would  not  love  thee  lefs  ; 
O  fupport  a  finking  worm  !  O  what  a  mercy  to  be 
afiurecl  that  all  things  are  working  together  for  good." 

Mrs- 


Letters  mid  Narrative.  235 

Mrs.  P.  faying,  If  we  mufl  part,  I  trufl:  the  fepara- 
tion  will  not  be  for  ever  ;  "  O  no,"  he  replied,  "  we 
forrow  not  as  thofe  who  have  no  hope."  She  faid, 
Then  you  can  leave  me  and  your  dear  children  with  re- 
fignat'ion,  can  you  ?  He  anfwered,  "My  heart  was 
pierced  through  with  many  forrows,  before  I  could 
give  you  and  the  dear  children  up ;  but  the  Lord  has 
heard  me  fay,  Thy  will  be  ,done  4  and  I  now  can  fay, 
bleiTed  be  his  dear  name,  I  have  none  of  my  own." 

His  laft  day,  Oft.  10,  was  very  happy ;  Mrs.  P.  re- 
peated this  verfe, 

Since  all  that  I  meet  fha-11  work  for  my  good, 
The  bitter  isfweet,  the  med'eine  is  food, 

Though  painful  at  prefent,  'twill  ccafe  before  long", 
And  then,  O  how  pleafunt,  the  conqueror's  fong. 

He  repeated  with  an  inexpreffible  fmile,  the  laft  line, 
** The  conqueror  s  fang" 

He  faid  once,  c<  O  my  dear  !  what  mall  I  do  ?  But 
why  do  I  complain  ?  He  makes  all  my  bed  in  my  fick- 
nefs."    She  then  repeated  thofe  lines, 

Jefus  can  make  a  dying  hed, 
Feel  foft  as  downy  pillows  are. 

«  Yes,"  he  replied,  "he  can  ;  he  docs;  I  feel  it," 


E    N    D. 


THREE 

OCCASIONAL   SERMONS. 


I.  THE  QUALIFICATIONS  AND  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT OF  A  FAITHFUL  MINISTER, 
ILLUSTRATED  BY  THE  CHARACTER 
AND   SUCCESS   OF  BARNABAS. 

Delivered  at  the  Settlement  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Fawkner,  in  the 
Pafloral  Office,  over  the  Baptiil  Church  at  Thorn,  in  Bedford- 
feire,  October  31,  1787. 

II.  THE  PERNICIOUS  INFLUENCE  OF  DE- 
LAY  IN    RELIGIOUS    CONCERNS. 

Delivered  at  a  Meeting  of  Minifters  at   Gfipjkmet  in  Nort  hamptoa- 
fhire,   April  27,  1791. 

III.  THE   IMPORTANCE  OF   A  DEEP  AND 

INTIMATE     KNOWLEDGE    OF    DIVINE 

TRUTH. 

delivered  at  an  AiTociation  of  Baptift  Minifters  and  Churches,  at 
St.Mbaii's,  Hertfordshire,  June  I,  1796. 


By    ANDREW    FULLER. 


BOSTON: 
FRINTED  BY  MANNING  to"  LORJMJ* 


SERMON     L 


The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement  of  a 
faithful  Minifler,  illujlrated  by  the  Char- 
after  and  Succefs  of  Barnabas. 


■™^«^^^|©^^&^*^ 


UY    DEAR    BROTHER, 

IT  is  a  very  important  work  to  which  you  are  this 
day  fet  apart.  I  feel  the  difficulty  of  your  fituation. 
You  need  both  counfel  and  encouragement ;  I  wifh 
I  were  better  able  to  adminiiter  both.  In  what  I  may- 
offer,  I  am  perfuaded  you  will  allow  me  to  be  free  \ 
and  underftand  me,  not  as  affuming  any  authority  or 
fuperiority  over  you,  but  only  as  faying  that  to  vou, 
which  I  wifh  to  ccnfider  as  equally  addreited  to  myfelf. 

Out  of  a  variety  of  topics  that  might  afford  a  leflbn 
for  a  Chriflian  minifter,  my  thoughts  have  turned  on 
this  occafion  upon  that  of  example.  Example  has  a 
great  influence  upon  the  human  mind  :  examples  from 
fcripture  efpecially,  wherein  characters  the  moft  illuf- 
trious  in  their  day  for  gifts,  grace,  and  ufefulnefs,  are 
drawn  with  the  pencil  of  infpiration,  have  an  aflimila- 
ting  tendency.  Viewing  thefe,  under  a  divine  bleffing, 
\ve  form  fome  juft  conceptions  of  the  nature  and  im- 
portance of  our  work,  are  led  to  reflect  upon  our  own, 
defects,  and  feel  the  fire  of  holy  emulation  kindling  in 
our  bofoms* 

The 


4         The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

The  particular  example,  my  brother,  which  I  wifli 
to  recommend  to  your  attention  is  that  of  Barnabas, 
that  excellent  fervant  of  Chrift,  and  companion  of  die 
apoftle  Paul.  You  will  find  his  character  particularly 
given  in 

Acts  xi.  24. 

He  was  a  good  man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  of 

faith  ;  and  much  peoplt  nvas  added  unto  the  Lord* 

WERE  we  to  examine  the  life  of  this  great  and  good 
man,  as  related  in  other  parts  of  icripture,  we  fhouki 
find  the  character  here  given  him  abundantly  confirm- 
ed. He  feems  to  have  been  one  of  that  great  compa- 
ny, c.hc  preaching  of  Peter  and  the  oth- 
0  Chrift  ibon  after  his  afcehfion. 
.  early  proof  of  his  love  to  him,  by  felling  his 

eflions,  and  laying  the  price  at  the  apoftles'  feet, 
for  the  fupport  of  his  infant  caufe.  As  he  loved 
Chrift,  fo  he  loved  his  people.     He  appears  to  have 

fefled  much  of  the  tender  and  affectionate,  on  ac- 
count of  which  he  was  called  Barnabas,  a  fan  of  confde- 
tion»*  Affiduous  in  discovering  and  encouraging  the 
firit  dawnings-  of  God's  work,  he  was  the  fir  ft  perfon 
that  introduced  Saul  into  the  company  cf  the  difeU 
ples.f     The  next  news  that  we  hear  of  him  is  in  the 

age  which  I  have  felecled.     Tidings  came  to 
ears  of  the  church  at  Jerusalem  of  the  word  of  the 
Lord  being  profperous   at    Autioch,   in   Syria.     The 
church  at  Jerufaiem  was  the  mother  church,  and  feh 
a  concern  for  others  like  that  of  a  t  ::  to- 

wards her  infant  offspring.  The  young  converts  at 
Antioch  wanted  a  nurfing  father  •,  and  who  fo  proper 
to  be  fent  as  Barnabas  ?  He  goes — and,  far  from  en* 
vying  the  fuccefs  of  others  who  had  laboured  before 
him,  he  was  glad  1  :e  of  God  fo  evidently 

appear  * 

*  Acts  -v.    j  I     -  -  +  i:;.   2". 


of  a  faithful  Mini/ler.  5 

appear  ;  and  exhorted  them,  with  full  purpofe  of  heart  to 
cleave  unto  the  Lord. — As  a  preacher,  he  does  not  feem 
to  have  been  equal  to  the  apoftle  Paul  ;*  yet,  fo  far 
was  he  from  caring  about  being  eclipfed  by  Paul's  fu- 
perior  abilities,  that  he  went  in  fearch  of  him,  and 
brought  him  to  Antioch  to  afiift  him  in  the  work  of 
the  Lord,  It  may  well  be  faid  of  fuch  a  character, 
that  he  was  a  good  man,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghofl,  and  of 
Jaith — O  that  we  had  more  fuch  minifters  in  the 
church  at  this  day — that  we  ourfelves  were  like  him  ! 
Might  we  not  hope,  if  that  were  the  cafe,  that,  ac- 
cording to  God's  ufual  manner  of  working,  more  peo- 
ple would  be  added  to  the  Lord  ! 

There  are  three  things  we  fee  which  are  faid  of  Bar- 
nabas in  a  way  of  commendation — he  was  a  good  ?nanr 
full  of  the  Holy  Ghojl,  and  of  faith — thus  far  he  is  held 
up  for  our  example  :  a  fourth  is  added  concerning  the 
effects  which  followed,  and  much  people  was  added  unto 
the  Lord — and  this  feems  to  be  held  up  for  our  en- 
couragement. Permit  me,  my  dear  brother,  to  re- 
quefl  your  candid  attention,  while  I  attempt  to  review 
thefe  great  qualities  in  Barnabas,  and  by  every  motive 
io  enforce  them  upon  you. 

I.  He  was  a  good  man. — It  were  eafy  to  prove 
the  neceffity  of  a  perfon  being  a  good  man,  in  order 
to  his  properly  engaging  in  the  work  of  the  miniitry — - 
Chrift  would  not  commit  his  fheep  but  to  one  that 
Loved  him  j — but  on  this  remark  I  (hall  not  enlarge. 
I  have  no  reafon  to  doubt,  my  brother,  but  that  God 
has  given  you  an  tuiderftanding  to  know  him  that  is 
true,  and  a  heart  to  love  him  in  fincerity  ;  I  trufiy 
therefore,  fuch  an  attempt  on  this  occanon  Is  peedfefs*. 
Nor  does  it  appear  to  me  to  be  the  meaning  of  the 
evangeliil.  It  is  not  barely  meant  of  Barnabas  that 
lie  was  a  regenerate  man  (though  that  is  implied);  but 
W   2-  it 

1  Afti  iiv,  is.  -j*- John  xxi,  16, 


6         The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

it  denotes  that  he  was  eminently  good.  We  ufe  the 
word  fo  in  common  conversation.  If  we  would  de- 
scribe one  that  more  than  ordinarily  fhines  in  piety, 
meeknefs,  and  kindnefs,  we  know  net  how  to  fpeak 
of  him  better,  than  to  fay,  with  a  degree  of  emphafis, 
w  he  is  a  good  man."  After  this  eminency  in  good- 
nefs,  brother,  may  it  be  your  concern  and  mine  daily 
to  afpire  ! 

Perhaps,  indeed,  we  may  have  fometimes  heard 
this  epithet  ufed  with  a  fneer.  Perfons  who  take 
pleafure  in  treating  others  with  contempt,  will  fre- 
quently, with  a  kind  of  proud  pity,  fpeak  in  this  man- 
ner, "  Aye,  fuch  a  one  is  a  good  man" — leaving  it  im- 
plied, that  goodnefs  is  but  an  indifferent  qualification, 
unlefs  it  be  accompanied  with  greatnefs.  But  thefc 
things  ought  not  fo  to  be.  The  apoftle  Paul  did  not 
value  himfelf  upon  thefe  things  wherein  he  differed 
from  other  Chriftians  •,  but  upon  that  which  he  pof- 
fefied  in  common  with  them,  charity,  or  Chriffian  love  : 
Though  I  fpeak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angel V,  and 
have  not  charity  ,  I  am  become  as  founding  brafs,  or  a  tink- 
ling evr.bal.  And  though  I  have  the  gift  of  prophecy  >  and 
under/land  all  my/leries,  and  all  hwivledge  ;  and  though  I 
have  all  faith ,  fo  that  1  could  remove  mountains y  and  have 
not  charityy  1  am  nothing* 

My  dear  brother,  value  the  character  of  a 

GOOD  MAN  IN  ALL  THE  PARTS  OF  YOUR  EMPLOY- 
MENT •,  AND  ABOVE  ALL  THOSE  THINGS  WHICH 
THE  WORLD  COUNTS  GREAT  AND  ESTIMABLE.      More 

particularly — 

Value  it  at  home  in  yout  family. — If  you  walk  not 
clofely  with  God  there,  you  will  be  ill  able  to  work 
for  him  elfewhere.  You  are  lately  become  the  head 
of  a  family.     Whatever  charge  it  (hail  pleafe  God  in 

"the 

J  l  Cor.  *iii,  X,  %• 


of  a  faithful  Minijier.  7 

the  courfe  of  your  life  to  place  under  your  care,  I  truft 
it  will  be  your  concern  to  recommend  Chrift  and  the 
gofpet  to  them,  walk  circuit]  before  them,  con- 

handy  worfnip  God  with  them,  offer  up  ieeret  prayer 
for  them,  and  exerclle  a -proper  authority  over  them. 
There  is  a  fort  of  religious  goffiping,  which  fome 
ininiiters  have  indulged  to  their  hurt  -y  loitering  about 
perpetually  at  the  houfes  of  their  friends,  and  taking 
no  delight  in  their  own.  Such  conduct  in  a  minifter 
and  mailer  of  a  family  muft  of  necefiity  root  out  alt 
family  order,  and,  to  a  great  degree,  family  worfhip  % 
and,  initead  of  endearing  him  to  his  friends,  it  only  ex- 
poles  him  to  their  juft  cenfure..  Perhaps  they  know 
not  how  to  be  fo  plain  as  to  tell  him  of  it  at  their  own 
houfes,  but  they  will  think  the  more,  and  fpeak  of  it„ 
it  is  likely,  to  one  another,  when  he  is  gone.— ^-1  truft* 

brother,  that  none  ot   your  domeftic  connexions- 
will  have  to  fay  when  you  are  gone,  "  He  was  loofe 

carelefs  in  his  conduct,  or  four  and  churlifh  in  his. 
temper  j5'  but  rather,  "  He  was  a  good  tifcui*" 

Value  this  character  in  your  private  retirements. — 
Give  yourfelf  up  to  the  word  cf  Gcd>  and  to  prayer^ 
The  apofvie  charged  Timothy,  faying,  Meditate  on 
thtfe  things •,  give  thsfdf  wholly  to  tbem>  or  be  thou  in 
them — but  this  will  never  be  without  a  confiderab  la- 
mare  of  the  goal  man.  Your  heart  can  never  be  m 
thofe  things  which  are  foreign  to  its  prevailing  temper  5 
and  if  your  heart  is  not  in  your  work,  it  will  be  a  poor 
lifeiefsbulinefs  indeed. — We  need  not  fear  exhaufiing. 
the  Bible,  or  dread  a  fcarcity  of  divine  fubjecls.  If 
our  hearts  are  but  kept  in  unifon  with  the  fpirit  in 
which  the  bible  was  written,  every  thing  we  meet 
with  will  be  interefling.  The  more  we  read,  the 
more  intereiling  it  will  appear  *,  and  the  more  we 
know,  the  more  we  (hall  perceive  there  is  to  be 
known. — Beware  alfo,  brother,  of  neglecting  fecret 
prayer.     The  fire  of  devotion  will  go  out;  if  it  be  not 

kept 


3         The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

kept  alive  by  an  habitual  dealing  with  Chrift.  Con* 
yerfing  with  men  and  tilings  may  brighten  our  gifts 
and  parts  ;  but  it  is  converting  with  God  that  mull 
brighten  our  graces.  Whatever  ardour  we  may  feel 
in  our  public  work,  if  this  is  wanting,  things  cannot 
be  right,  nor  can  they  in  fuch  a  train  come  to  a  good 
ifiue. 

Value  it  in  your  public  exercifes.  It  is  hard  going- 
on  in  the  work  of  the  miniftry  without  a  good  degree 
of  fpirituality  \  and  yet,  confidering  the  prefent  ftate 
of  human  nature,  we  are  in  the  greatefl  danger  of  the 
contrary.  Allow  me,,  brother,  to  mention  two  things 
in  particular,  each  of  which  are  directly  oppofite  to 
that  fpirit  which  I  am  attempting  to  recommend. 
One  is  an  ajfumed  earnejlnefs,  or  forced  zeal  'in  the  pul- 
pit, which  many  weak  hearers  may  miftake  for  the  en- 
joyment of  God-  But  though  we  may  put  on  violent 
jemotions  ;  may  fmite  with  the  hand,  and  ftamp  with 
the  foot ;  if  we  are  deftitute  of  a  genuine  feeling 
fenfe  of  what  we  deliver,  it  will  be  difcerned  by  ju- 
dicious hearers,  as  well  as  by  the  Searcher  of  hearts, 
and  will  not  fail  to  create  difguft.  If,  on  the  contra- 
ry, we  feel  and  realize  the  fentiments  we  deliver, 
emotions  and  actions  will  be  the  natural  exprefiions 
of  the  heart  ;  and  this  will  give  weight  to  the  doc- 
trines, exhortations,  or  reproofs  which  we  inculcate  5 
what  we  fay  will  come  with  a  kind  of  divine  authori- 
tv  to  the  consciences,  if  not  to  the  hearts  of  the  hear- 
ers.— The  other  is*  a  being  under  the  influence  of  law 
and  feljipj  motives,  in  the  exercife  of  our  work.  This  is 
a  temptation  againfl  which  we  have  fpecial  reafon  to 
watch  and  pray.  It  is  right,  my  brother,  for  you  to 
be  diligent  in  your  public  work  \  to  be  inflant  in  fea*- 
fon  and  out  of  feafon  \  to  preach  the  gofpel  not  only. 
at  Thorny  but  in  the  furrcunding  villages,  wherever  a 
door  is  opened  for  you  :  but  while  you  are  thus  en- 
gaged, let  it  not  be  from  motives  of  policy,  merely  to 

increafe; 


of  a  faitJyful  Mini/ler.  9 

increafe  your  auditory  ;  but  from  lave  to  Clirift  and 
the  fouls  of  your  feliow-finners.  It  is  this  only  that 
will  endure  reflection  in  a  dying  hour.  The  apoftle 
Paul  was  charged  by  fome  of  the  Corinthian  teachers 
with  being  crafty,  and  with  having  caught  the  Corin- 
thians with  guile  :  but  he  could  fay  in  reply  to  all 
fuch  infinuations,  in  behalf  of  himfelf  and  his  fellow- 
labourers,  Our  rejoicing  is  this,  the  teflimony  of  our  con- 
science, that  in  f implicit y  and  godly  fincerity,  not  ivithfe/h- 
ly  ivifdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  ive  have  had  our  con- 
..ion  %n  the  wsrld* 

Value  it  in  the  general  tenor  of  ycur  behaviour. — -Cul- 
tivate a  med;,  modeft,  peaceful,  and  friendly  temper. 
Be  generous  and  humane.  Prove  by  your  fpirit  and 
conduct  that  you  are  a  lover  of  all  mankind.  To  men 
in  general,  but  efpecially  to  the  poor  and  the  afflicted* 
be  pitiful^  be  courteous.  It  is  this,  my  brother,  that  will 
recommend  the  gofpel  you  proclaim.  Without  this, 
lid  you  preach  with  the  eloquence  cf  an  angel,  you 
may  expect  that  no  good  end  will  be  anfwered. 

Prize  the  character  of  the  good  man,  ahve  «w 

. — It  is  not  finful  for  a  minifter  to  poiTefe 
property  any  mare  than  another  man  \  but  to  afpire 
after  it  is  unworthy  of  his  facred  character.  Great- 
nefs,  unaccompanied  with  goodnefs,  is  valued  as  noth- 
ing by  the  great  God.  Kings  and  emperors,  where 
that  is  wanting,  are  but  great  beofs,  horr.. 
puihing  one  at  another,  f     Wl  acherib  «ai 

/arch  of  God,  that  he  would 
/•/,  and  cut  tall  cedars,  the 

daughter  of  Zfon  is  ec  .  v  him.     God 

fpeaks  of  him  as  we  mould  fpeak  of  a  buiialo,  or  even 
of  an  afs,  I  will  put  my  hook  in  thy  ttofex  and  my  b. 

in 

*  i  Ccr.  jil.  1 6,  compared  with  cbr.p.  i.  iz.     S*e  Dr.  Owen  oc 
Heb.  iii.   i,  vol,  ii.  p.  6» 

f  Dai:,  vliu 


io       The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

in  thy  lips,  and  ivill  turn  thee  bach  by  the  way  by  which 
thou  cameft.*  Outward  greatnefs,  when  accompanied 
with  goodnefs,  may  be  a  great  bleffing  ;  yet  even 
then,  it  is  the  latter,  and  not  the  former,  that  (denomi- 
nates the  true  worth  of  a  character.     Once  more, 

Value  it  above  mental  greatnefs,  or  greatnefs  in  gifts 
and  parts. — It  is  not  wrong  to  cultivate  gifts  \  on  the 
contrary,  it  is  our  duty  fo  to  do.  But  defirable  as 
thefe  are,  they  are  not  to  be  compared  with  goodnefs* 
Covet  earnejlly  the  be/}  gifts,  fays  the  apoftle,   and  yet 

SHEW  I  UNTO  YOU  A  MORE  EXCELLENT  WAY viz* 

charity,  or  love.  If  we  improve  in  gifts  ancTnot  in 
grace,  to  fay  the  leaft,  it  will  be  ufelefs,  and  perhaps 
dangerous,  both  to  ourfelves  and  others.  To  im- 
prove in  gifts,  that  we  may  be  the  better  able  to  dif- 
charge  our  work,  is  laudable  ;  but  if  it  be  for  the  fake 
of  popular  applaufe,  let  us  expedt,  a  blaft.  Hundreds 
of  minifters  have  been  ruined  by  indulging  a  thirft  for 
the  character  of  the  great  man,  while  they  have  neg- 
lected the  far  fuperior  chara&er  of  the  good  man. — 
Another  part  of  the  character,  of  Barnabas  was,  that 
he  was, 

II.  Full  of  the  Holy  Ghost. — The  Holy  Ghofl: 
fometimes  denotes  his  extraordinary  gifts,  as  in  A£ts 
xix. — where  the  apoftle  Paul  put  the  queftion  to  fome 
believers  in  Chriit,  whether  they  had  received  the 
Holy  Ghoft  ;  but  here  it  fignifies  his  indwelling  and 
ordinary  operations,  or  what  is  elfewhere  called  an 
unclimfrom  the  Holy  One.f  This,  though  more  com- 
mon than  the  other,  is  far  more  excellent.  Its  fruits, 
though  lefs  brilliant,  are  abundantly  the  moft  valua- 
ble. To  be  able  to  furmoant  a  difficulty  by  Chriftian 
patience,  is  a  greater  thing  in  the  fight  of  God  than  to 
remove  a  mountain.  Every  work  of  God  bears  fome 
mark  of  Godhead,  even  a  thiftle  or  a  nettle  •,  but  there 

aro 

*  Ifauh  xxxvii.   29.  f  I  JohH,  ii.   U3. 


cf  a  faithful  Mini/ier.  x  i 

are  fome  works  of  God  which  bear  a  peculiar  likenefs 
to  his  holy  moral  character  ;  fuch  were  the  minds  of 
men  and  angels  in  their  original  ftate.  This  will 
ferve  to  illuftrate  the  fubjeft  in  hand.  The  extraor- 
dinary gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are  a  communication  of 
his  power  ;  but  in  his  dwelling  in  the  faints,  and  the 
ordinary  operations  of  his  grace,  he  communicates  his 
own  holy  nature  ;  and  this  it  was  of  which  Barnabas 
was  full.  To  be  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  is  to  be  full 
of  the  dove,  as  I  may  fay  ;  or  full  of  thofe  fruits  of 
the  Spirit  mentioned  by  the  apoftle  to  the  Galatians, 
viz.  love,  joy,  peace,  long-fujfering,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs. 

To  be  fure,  the  term  full  is  not  here  to  be  under- 
ftood  in  an  unlimited  fenfe  ;  not  in  fo  ample  a  fenfe 
as  when  it  is  applied  to  Chrift.  He  was  filed  with 
the  Spirit  without  meafure,  but  we  in  meafure.  The 
word  is  doubtlefs  to  be  underftood  in  a  comparative 
fenfe,  and  denotes  as  much  as  that  he  was  habitually 
under  his  holy  influence.  A  perfon  that  is  greatly 
under  the  influence  of  the  love  of  this  world,  is  faid 
to  be  drunken  with  its  cares  or  pleafures.  In  allufion 
to  fomething  like  this,  the  apoftle  exhorts  that  we  be 
not  drunken  with  ivine,  wherein  is  excefs  ;  but  FILLED 
with  the  Spirit.*  The  word  filed here  is  very  exprefT- 
ive  ;  it  denotes,  I  fhould  think,  a  being  overcome]  as  it 
were  with  the  holy  influences  and  fruits  of  the  ble fled 
Spirit.  How  neceflary  is  all  this/  my  brother,  in  your 
work  ;  O,  how  neceflary  is  an  unclion  from  the  Holy 
One  ! 

It  is  this  that  will  enable  you  to  enter, into  the  fpirit 
•fthe  go/pel,  and  preferve  you  from  ckjlruclive  errors  con- 
cerning it.— ^?hofe  who  have,  an  unttion  fromtfie 
Holy  One,  are  faid  to  know  all  things  ;  ' and  the  anoint- 
ing which  they  have  received  abideth  in  them,  and  they  need 
not  that  any  man  teach  them  :  but)  as  the  fame  anointing 

teacheth 
I  Eph,  v.  x& 


1 2       The  S£uaHfoations  and  Encouragement 

ieacheth  them  all things,  and  is  truth,  and  is  no  %eJ* — 
We  fhall  naturally  fall  in  with  the  di&ates'  of  that 
Spirit  of  which  we  are  full.  It  is  for  want  of  this, 
in  a  great  meafure,  that  the  fcriptures  appear  ftrange, 
and  foreign,  and  difficult  to  be  understood.  He  that 
IS  full  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  has  the  contents  of  the 
Bible  written,  as-I  may  fay,  upon  his  heart  •,  and  thus 
its  facred  pages  are  'eafy  to  be  underftood,  as  fwifdo?n 
is  -eafy  to  him  that  under]} andeth. 

It  is  no  breach  of  charity  to  fay,  that  if  the  profef- 
fors  of  Chriftianity  had  more  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God  in  thpir  hearts,  there  would  be  a  greater  harmo- 
ny amongft  them  refpetting  the  great  truths  whkh  he 
has  revealed.  The  reje&iori  of  fuch  doftrines  as  the 
exceeding  finfulnefs  of  (in,  the  total  depravity  of  man- 
kind, the  proper  Deity  and  atonement  of  Chrift,  jufti- 
fication  by  faith  in  his  name,  the  freenefs  and  fove- 
reignty  of  grace,  and  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
may  eafily  be  accounted  for  upon  this  principle.  If 
we  are  deftitute  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  are  blind  to 
the  lovelinefs  of  the  divine  character,  and  deftitute  of 
any  true  love  to  God  in  our  hearts  ;  arid  if  deftitute 
of  this,  we  ihall  not  be  able  to  fee  the  reafonabknefs 
of  that  law,  wrhich  requires  love  to  him  with  alt  the 
heart;  and  then,  of  courfe,  we  fhall  think  lightly  of 
the  nature  of  thofe  offences  committed  againft  him  :-r- 
we  (hall  be  naturally  difpofed.  to  palliate  and  excufe 
our  wrant  of  love  to  him,  yea,  arid  even  our  pofitiye 
violations  of  his  law  ;  it  will  feem  hard,  very  hard  in- 
deed, for  fuch  little  things  as  thefe  to  be  puniflied 
With  everlafting  deftruftion.  And  now,  all  this  ad- 
mitted, we  (hall  naturally  be  blind  to  the  neceflity  and 
glory  of  falvation  by  Jefits  Chrift.  If  fin  is  fo  trifling 
an  affair,  it  will  feem  a  ftrange  and  incredible  thing 
that  God  ihould  become  incarnate  to  atone  for  it. 
And  hence  we  (hall  be  very  eafily  perfuaded  to  con- 

£der 
•  l  John,  ii.  30,  fcj! 


cf  a  faithful  Mini  ft  er.  1 3 

fider  Chrift  as  only  a  good  man,  who  came  into  the 
world  to  fet  us  a  good  example  ;  or,  however,  that  he 
is  not  equal  with  the  Father.  The  freenefs  and  fove- 
reignty  of  grace  alfo,  together  with  juftification  by 
imputed  righteoufnefs,  will  be  a  very  ftrange  found  in 
our  ears.  Like  the  Jews,  we  fhall  go  about  to  ejlablijh 
our  civil  righteoufnefs  y  and  fall  not  fubmit  to  the  right- 
eoufnefs of  God.  It  will  feem  equally  ftrange  and  in- 
credible to  be  told,  that  we  are  by  nature  utterly  unfit 
for  the  kingdom  of  God — that,  therefore,  we  triuft  be 
born  again — that  we  are  fo  bad,  that  we  cannot  even 
come  to  Chrift  for  life,  except  the  Father  draw  us — 
yea,  and  that  our  beft  doings,  after  all,  are  unworthy 
of  God's  notice.  It  will  be  no  wonder,  if,  inftead  of 
thefe  unwelcome  and  humiliating  dodtrines,  we  fhould 
fall  in  with  thofe  writers  and  preachers  who  think 
more  favourably  of  our  condition,  and  the  condition 
of  the  world  at  large  \  v/ho  either  deny  eternal  pun- 
ifhment  to  exift,  or  reprefent  men  in  general,  as  being 
in  little  or  no  danger  of  it  And  having  avowed  thefe 
fentiments,  it  will  then  become  neceffary  to  compli- 
ment their  abettors  (including  ourfelves  in  the  num- 
ber) as  perfons  of  a  more  rational  and  liberal  way  of 
chinking  than  other  people. 

My  dear  brother,  of  all  things  be  this  your  prayer, 
Take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me  !  If  once  we  fink  into 
fuch  a  way  of  performing  our  public  work,  as  to  do 
without  his  enlightening  and  enlivening  influences, 
we  may  go  on,  and  probably  fhall  go  on,  from  one  de- 
gree of  evil  to  another.  Knowing  how  to  account 
for  the  operations  of  our  own  minds,  without  imputing 
them  to  a  divine  agency,  we  fhall  be  inclined  in  this 
manner  to  account  for  the  operations  in  the  minds  of 
others  •,  and  fo,  with  numbers  in  the  prefent  age, 
may  foon  call  in  queftion  even  whether  there  be  any 
Holy  Ghcfi.  J 


But 


rage  mem 

Eut  farther,  A  being  iVil  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  will  give 

nd  preaching. There 

is  fuch  a  thiog  as  the  mind  being  habitually  under  the 
influence  of  divine  things  ;  and  retaining  fo  much  of  a 
fervour  of  Chrift,  as  that  divine  truths  (hall  be  viewed 
:ind  expreffed,  as  I  may  fay,  in  their  own  language. 
Spiritual  things  will  bzfpiriiuxily  d'feerned >•   and  S  fpir- 

ally  difcerned,  will  be  fpiritually  communicated. 
There  is  more  in  cur  mcuiiier  of  thinking  and  fpeaking 
upon  divine  truth  than,  perhaps,  at  firft  fight,  we  are 
aware  of .  A  great  part  of  the  phraseology  of  fcripture 
is  by  fome  accounted  unfit  to  be  rddrened  to  a  mod- 
ern ear  ;  and  is  en  this  account  to  a  great  degree  hid 
afide,  even  by  thofe  who  profefs  to  be  fatisfied  with  the 

laments  therein  contained.  Whatever  may  be  faid 
in  defence  of  this  practice  in  a  very  few  inflances,  fuch 
;;s  thofe  where  words  in  a  translation  are  become  obfo- 
lete,  or  convey  a  different  idea  from  what  they  did  at 
the  time  of  being  tranilated,  I  am  fatisfied  the  practice 
in  general  is  very  pernicious.  There  are  many  fer- 
mons  that  cannot  fairly  be  charged  with  untruth,  which 
yet  have  a  tendency  to  lead  off  the  mind  from  the  fim- 
plicity  of  the  gofpei.  If  fuch  fcripture  terms,  for  in- 
,ftance,  a$  hoRnefsy  godiviefs,  grace ,  believers,  faints,  com? 
/Bitmap  nvith  God,  Sec.  {hoiild  be  thrown  afide  as  fa*. 
routing  no  much  of  cant  and  enthufiafm,  and  fuch 
terms  as  vwAlityy  virtue,  religion,  good  men,  happinefs  of 
mind,  &c.  fubfrituted  in  their  room,  it  will  have  an 
amazing  effe£l  upon  the  hearers.  If  fuch  preaching 
is  the  gofpei,  it  is  the  gofpei  heathenized,  and  will  tend 
to  heathenize  the  minds  of  thofe  who  deal  in  it.  I  do 
not  mean  to  object,  to  the  ufe  of  thefe  latter  terms  in 
their  place  ;  they  are  fome  of  them  fcriptural  terms  : 
what  I  object  to  is  putting  them  in  the  place  of  the 
other,  when  difcourfing  upon  evangelical  fubjeots.  To 
be  fure,  there  is  a  way  of  handling  divine  fubjecls  af- 
ter this  fort  that  is  very  clever,  and  very  ingenious  -, 
2nd  a  minifter  of  fuch  a  ftamp  may  commend  himfelf 

bv 


cf  a  faithful  MimJSer.  1 5 

..is  Ingenuity  to  many  hearers  :  but  after  all,  God'o 
truths  are  never  fo  acceptable  and  favoury  to  a 
heart,  as  when  clothed  in  their  own  native  ph  rale  ele- 
gy.    The  mjre  you  are  filled,  ray  brother,  with  ad 

:ion  from  the  Holy  One,  the  greater  reliih  p  wilt 
polleis  for  that  favoury  manner  of  conveying  truth  which 
is   fo  plentifully  exemplified  in  the   holy   fcriptu 
Farther* 

It  is  this  that  will  make  the  doctrines  you  pre... 
and  the  d  ;  inculcate,  \czm  fitted  '.  .  :  ;  I 

allude  to  a  faying  of  the  wife  man,  (Prov.  :•.: 
~Ths  iv^rds  of  the  wife  j.rs  pleafatUy  if  thou  keep  t  ::■.■:  1 

;  theyfball  withal  befitted  in  t/:y  lips.     It  is  expedt- 
sd  there  fhould  be  an  agreement  between  the  charac- 
ter of  the  fpeaker  and  the  things  which  are  fpeken. 
.bbec:?i:cih  not  a  fool.      Exhortations  to  he- 
linefs  come  with  aji  ill  grace  from  the  iipe  of  one  who 
:!ges  himfelf  in  iniquity.     The  oppofite  of  this  \% 
:  I  mean  by  the  doctrines  and  duties  of  religion 
teditijoiir  lips.     It  is  this  that  will  make  your 
e,  when  you  come  forth  in  your  public  la- 
bours, like  the  face  of  Moles  when  lie  had  been  con* 
j  wich  God  in  the  holy  mc 

It  is  this  that  will  give  afpirihic! favour  to  your  cznvey- 
ftition^  in  your  vi(its  to  your  friends.— Though  relig- 
Lous  vifits  maybe  abufed  •,  yet  you  know, 'brother, 
neceflity  there  is  for  them,  if  you  would  under- 
td  the  fpiritual  condition  of  thofe  minds  you  preach 
to.  There  are  many  faults  like  wife  that  you  may  dis- 
cover in  individuals,  which  it  would  be  unmanly,  a3 
well  as  unfriendly,  to  expofe  in  a  pointed  manner  in 
the  pulpit,  which,  nevertheless  ought  not  tobepafled 
by  unnoticed.  Here  is  work  for  your  private  vifits  ; 
and,  in  proportion  as  you  are  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  you  will  poffefs  a  fpirit  of  love  and  faithfulnefs, 
which  is  abfclutely  necellary  to  fuccefsful  reproof. — 

ft 


1 6       The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

It  is  in  our  private  vifits  alfo  that  we  can  be  free  with 
our  people,  and  they  with  us.  Queftions  may  be  afk- 
ed  and  anfwered,  difficulties  difcufled,  and  foul-con- 
cerns talked  over.  Paul  taught  the  Ephefians,  not  on- 
ly publickly,  but  from  houfe  to  houfe*  Now,  it  is  a  be- 
ing full  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  will  give  a  fpiritual 
favour  to  all  this  conversation.  It  will  be  as  the  holy 
anointing  oil  on  Aaron's  garments,  which  diffufed  a 
favour  to  all  around  him. 

It  is  this  that  will  teach  you  haw  you  ougl . 
KQurfelfvci  every  department  you  are  called  to  occupy. 
It  will  ferve  inftead  of  ten  thoufand  rules ;  and  all  rules 
without  it  will  be  of  no  account.  This  it  is  that  will 
teach  you  to  be  of  a  meek,  mild,  peaceful,  humble 
fpirit.  It  will  make  fuch  a  fpirit  be  natural  to  you. 
As  touching  brotherly  love,  laid  the  apoftle  to  the  Ephe- 
fians, you  need  rbt  that  I  write  unto  you,  for  ye  ; 
are  taught  of  God  to  love  one  another.\ 

In  fhort,  it  Is  this  that  will  denominate  you  th 
of  God.     Such  and  fuch,  my  brotl 

was  vour  predeceilbr,  whcie  memory  is  dear  to  many 
of  us  \%  and  fuch,  according  to  all  that  I  have  heard, 
was  his  predeccvTor,  whofe  memory  i  y  dear  to 

many  here  prefer  h,  i"i  His   day,  was  a  bu 

ing  and  fhining  light ;  but  they  dime  here  no  more. 
May  vou,  my  brother,  >e  followers  of 

hcv  alio  were  of  Chriii  ! — Another  part  of 

III.     He 

f   i   7  hef.  iv.  9. 

:    I  he  Rev.  David  E**nf,  who  was  ordained  paftor  of  rhe  church 
:  782,  and  died  February  21,  1-787,  aged  31. 

§  The  Rev.  Woi.  Buifield,  who  was  ordained  pallor  of  the  church, 
at  Thorn,  Feb.  15,  1775,  and  died  March  23,  1778,  of  the  Small- 
Vox,  aged  30. 


of  a  fait  if  id  Mlnifier.  Vf 

HI.  He  was  full  of  faith.— It  may  be  difficult  to 
afcertain  with  precifion,  the  real  intent  and  extent  o£ 
this  term  \  but  I  ihould  think,  in  this  connexion,  it 
includes  at  leaft  the  three  following  ideas  :  a  mind 
occupied  with  divine  fentiment — a  being  rooted  and 
grounded  in  the  truth  of  the  gofpel — and  a  daily  liv- 
ing upon  it.  The  fir  ft  of  thefe  ideas  diftinguifhed 
him  from  thofe  characters  whofe  minds  are  void  cr. 
principle  \  the  next  from  inch  who  are  always  hover- 
ing upon  the  borders  of  ikepticifm  ;  and  the  laft  from 
fuch  who,  though  they  have  no  manner  of  doubts 
about  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  of  the  gofpel,  yet 
fcarcely  ever,  if  at  all,  feel  their  vital  influence  upon 
their  hearts  and  lives. — Let  us  review  each  of  thefe  a. 
little  more  particularly. — Firfly  His  mind  was  well  oc~ 
cupie:!,  or  ft  or  ^d  lulib  divine  fentiment. — How  neceSary 
is  this  to  a  gofpel  miniiler  !  It  is  to  be  feared,  that 
many  young  men  have  rufiied  into  the  work  of  the 
Lord  without  any  decided  principles  of  their  own  ; 
yea,  and  have  not  only  fet  off  in  fuch  a  ftate  of  mind, 
but  have  continued  ib  all  through  their  lives.  Alas, 
what  can  the  churches  expect  from  fuch  characters  ? 
What  can  fuch  a  void  produce  ?  How  can  we  feed 
others  with  knowledge  and  underftanding,  if  we  are 
deftitute  of  it  ourfelves  ?  To  fay  the  leaft,  fuch  min- 
ifters  will  be  but  unprf -fable  fervants*  But  this  is  not 
all ;  a  mrnifter  that  is  not  inured  to  think  for  himfclf, 
is  conftantly  expofed  to  every  falfe  fentiment,  or  fyf- 
tern,  that,  happens  to  be  prefect  ted-  to  him.  We  fome- 
times  hear  of  a-«  perfon  changing  his  fentiment s  ;  and. 
dpubtieffr,  in,  many  cafes,  it  is  jult  and  right  he  mould 
change  them--,  but  there  are  cafes- in  which  that  mode 
of.  fpeaking.  is  very,  improper,  for  in  reality  feme  per- 
fons  have  no  fentiments  of  their  own  to  change  ;  they 
have  only  changed  the  fentiments  of  feme  one  great 
man  for  thofe  of  another. 

X  z  Secondly^ 


1 8        The  Qualificaiiom  and  Encouragement 

Secondly,  He  had  a  firm  perfuajion  of  the  truth  of  thai 
go/pel  which  he  preached  to  others. — He  was  rooted  and 
grounded  in  the  gofpel.  The  great  controverfy  of 
that  day  was,  whether  the  gofpel  was  true  •,  whether 
Jefus  was  the  Meffiah  \  whether  he,  who  fo  lately. ex- 
pired on  the  crofs,  was  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  whether 
his  death  was  the  way  for  men  to  obtain  eternal  life. 
There  were  great  temptations  for  a  perfon,  who  fhould 
view  things  through  a  medium  of  fenfe,  to  think  oth- 
erwife.  The  popular  opinion  went  againft  it — To 
the  Jews  it  was  a  ftumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks 
foolifnnefs.  Thofe  who  adhered  to  the  gofpel,  thereby 
expofed  themfelves  to  cruel  perfections.  But  Barna- 
bas was  full  of  faith — he  was  decidedly  on  the  Lord's 
fide — he  believed  on  the  Son  of  God,  and  had  the  witnefs 
of  the  truth  of  his  gofpel  within  himfelf* 

Preaching  the  gofpel  is  bearing  a  teftimony  for  God  ; 
but  we  (hall  never  be  able  to  do  this  to  any  good  pur- 
pofe,  if  we  be  always  hefitating,  and  indulging  a  fkep- 
tical  humour.  There  is  no  need  of  a  dogmatic.]] 
over-bearing  temper  ;  but  there  i3  need  of  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  the  truths  of  God.  Be  not 
carried  about,  faid  the  apoftle  to  the  Hebrews,  with 
hBrines  ;  it  is  a  good  thing  thai  the  heart  be 
i  with  grare.f  .The  contrary  defcribes  the 
character  of  thofe  who -are  ever  learning,  and  never  able 
ic  cyiie.  tQ  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.% 

Thirdly*  That  gofpel,  which  he  preached  to  others, 
h  lived  upon  himfc&~~ The  word  preached,  we  are  teW, 
i:;d  not  profit  fine,  lecauf  it  was  not  mixed  with  f  nil:  in 
them  that  heard  ih  This  will  equally  hold  good  in 
the  cafe  of  the  preacher  as  cf  the  hearer.  If  we  mix 
not  faith  with  the  doctrine  we  deliver,  it  will  not 
profit  us.  Whatever  abilities-  we  may  pofiefs,  and  of 
whatever  ufe  we  may  be  made  to  others,  unlefs  we 

can 
•   i  John,  v.  Kb.  xlii.  9.  Tira.iii.  r. 


rf  a  fa 

can  fay  in  feme  fort  with  the  apoftle  Joh:  . 
ivc  have  feen  with  cur  eyes^  and  looked  upon,  and 
hands  have  handled  of  the  word  of  life, — ti 
unto  you,  our  own  fouls  may  notwithstanding  cvcrlait- 
y  perifli  !  This  is  a  very  ferious  matter  ;   and  well 
dcierves  our  attention  as  minifters  !   Profefibrs  in  the. 
age  of  Barnabas  might  be  under  greater  temptations 
than  we  are,  to  queftion  whether  Jefus  was  the  true 
Meffiah  ;   but  we  are  under  greater  temptations  than 
they  were  of  rcfting  in  a  mere  implicit  afient  to  the 
Chriftian  religion,  without  realizing  and  living  upon, 
its  important  truths. 

It  is  a  temptation  to  which  we  are  more  than  ordi- 
narily expofed,  to  ftudy  divine  truth  as  preachers  rather 
than  as  ChriJHans  ;  in  other  words,  to  ftudy  it  for  the 
fake  of  finding  out  fomething  to  fey  to  others,  with- 
out fo  much  as  thinking  of  profiting  our  own  fouls. 
If  we  fludied  divine  truths  as  Chriftians,  our  being 
constantly  engaged  in  the  fervice  of  God  would  be 
friendly  to  our  growth  in  grace.  We  mould  be  like 
trees  planted  by  the  rivers  of  waters  >  that  bring  forth  fruit 
hi  their  feafon  ;  and  all  that  we  did  would  be  likelv  to 
profper*  But  if  we  ftudy  it  only  as  preachers,  it  will 
be  the  reverfe.  Our  being  cenverfant  with  the  Bible 
will  be  like  furgeons  and  fold i era  being  converfant 
with  the  ibedding  of  human  bloody  till  they  lofe  ail 
fenfibility  concerning  it.  I  believe  it  b  a  fact,  that 
where  a  preacher  is  wicked,,  he  is  genera-Hv  the  molt 
hardened  againft  coimciion  of  any  character  what- 
ever. Happy  wiil  it  he  for  us,  if,  like  Enrnabas,  we 
are  full  of  faith  in  that  Saviour  whom  we  recommend, 
in  that  gofpel  which  it  is  our  employment  to  proclaim*. 

IV.  'We  new  come  to  the  laft  part  of  the  fubjeft, 

which  is  held   up   by    way  o£    encouragement — -„ 
unto  ihc  Lord. — When  our  n 

hlrv 
*  Pf.v  i.  V  3, 


2o       The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

iftry  is  blefied  to  the  converfion  of  {Timers,  to  the 
bringing  them  off  from  their  connexion  with  fin  and 
felf  to  a  vital  union  with  Chrift  ;  when  our  congre- 
gations are  filled  not  merely  with  profeflbrs  of  relig- 
ion, but  with  found  believers  ;  when  fuch  believers- 
come  forward,  and  offer  themfelves- willingly  for  com- 
munion, faying,  We  will  go  with  you,  for  ire  have  heard 
that  God  is  with  you — then  it  may  be  fa  id,  that  much 
people  is  added  unto  the  Lord.  The  connexion  between 
fuch  additions,  and  eminency  in  grace  and  holinefs  in 
2  miniller,  deferves  our  ferious  attention. 

I  think  it  may  be  laid  down  as  z  rule,  which  both 
fcripture  and  experience  will  confirm,  that  eminent 
jpiritualiiy  in  a  minijler  is  tifually  attended  with  eminent 
ufefulnefs.  I  do  not  mean  to  fay,  our  ufefulnefs  de- 
pends upon  our  fpirituality,  as  an  effeft  depends  upon 
its  caufe  ;  nor  yet  that  it  is  always  in  proportion  to  it^ 
God  is  a  fovereign,  and  frequently  fees  it  proper  to 
convince  us  of  it,  in  varioufly  beftowing  his  blefiing 
on  the  means  o£  grace.  But  yet  he  is  not  wanting 
in  giving  encouragement  to  what  he  approves,  wher- 
ever it  is  found.  Our  want  of  ufefulnefs  is  often  to 
be  afcribed  to  cur  want  of  fpirituality,  much  oftener 
than  to  our  want  of  natural  ability.  God  has  fre- 
quently been  known  to  fueceed  men  of  but  rough 
parts  and  abilities,  where  they  have  been  eminently 
holv,  when  he  has  blafted  others  of  much  fuperior 
talents,  where  that  has  been  wanting.  Hundreds  of 
minifters,  who,,  on  account  of  their  gifts,  have  prom- 
ifed  to  be  finning  characters,  h:ve  proved  the  reverfe  \ 
and  ali  owing  to  fuch  things  as  pride,  unwatchfulnefs,. 
carnality,  and  levity. 

Eminency  in  grace,  my  brother,  will  contribute  to 
jour  fuccefo  in  three  ways — 


of  a  faithful  Minijler, 

Firft,  It  will  fire  your  foul  with  holy  love  to  Chrift* 
and  the  fouls  of  men  ;  and  fuch  a  fpirit  is  ufiially  at- 
tended with  iuccefs. — I  believe  you  will  find,  that  ia 
almoft  all  the  great  works  which  God  hath  wrought 
in  any  period  of  time,  he  has  honoured  men  of  this 
character,  by  making  them  his  inftruments.  In  the 
midft  of  a  fore  calamity  upon  the  murmuring  Ifrael- 
ites,  when  God  was  inclined  to  fliew  mercy,  it  was 
by  the  means  of  his  fervant  Aaron  running,  with  a. 
cenfer  of  fire  in  his  haul,  and  (landing  between 
living  and  the  d:^d  !*  The  great  reformation  : 
was  brought  about  in  the  days  of  He^eiiah,  was  by 
the  inftTumentality  of  a  man  ?.  hat  which 

ivjs  good,  and  right,  and  true  before  the  Lord  his  God — 
and  then  it  follows,  A  y  work  that  he  began  in 

theft  the  law,  and  in  the 

':d,    HE   DJD  IT  WITH  ALL 
HIS  HEAKT,  and  PROSPEREU.f 

The  her  great  \  on  in  the  Tev, 

church,  about  the  time  of  their  return  from  Babylon,. 
One  of  the  chief  inftruments  in  tins  wrork  was  Ezra, 
a  ready  fcribe  in  the  law  of  his  God  ,•  a  man  who  had 
prepared  his  hezrt  to  feek  the  lavj  of  the  Lord,  and  to  do 
it,  and  to  i  ■des  and  judgments  j — a  man 

who  fa/let  ::yc:!  at  the  river  Ahtava  previous  to 

his  great  undertaking  ; — a  man  who  was  afterwards 
fortly  aflo  . 

nor  &  d  out 

his  hands  unto  the  Lard  his. God,  on  a& 

Another  great  mitrument  in 
this  work  was  tn  that  devote-d  hinvfeif 

who'  of  God  and  his  people,  labour- 

ing night  and  day  ;    that  was  not  to  be  feduced  by 
the  intrigues  of  God's  adversaries,  nor  yet  intimi 
ted  by  their  threate^nings,  but  perfevered  in  his  work' 

tilt 

*  Numb.  xvi.  46 — 50.  f  %  Chroa.  xxxi.  20,  ax* 

f   Ezra  vii.  io,    v.'i.'.    10.  \s>  .?.    x>  6, 


22       The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement 

till  it  was  ftmfltedj  clofing  his  labours  with  this  fol- 
emu  prayer  and  appeal.  Think  upon  r^e,  0  my  God,  far 
g:sJ)  according  to  ail  that  I  have  done  for  this  people .*' 

Time  would  fail  me  to  (peak  cf  all  the  great  foulsr 
both  infpired  and  uriinfpired,  whom  the  King  of  kings- 
hath  delighted  to  honour — cf  PW,  and  Petery  and^ 
their  companions  ;  of  Wicklrff,  and  Luthery  and  Cal- 
vitt,  and-  many  others  at  the  reformation  ;  of  Elliot \ 
and  Edwards^  and  Braixtrt^  and  IVhihjleldy  and  hun- 
dreds more,  whofe  names  are  held  in  deferved  efteenv 
in  the  church  cf  God.  Thefe  were  men  of  God, 
men  who  had  great  grace  as  well  as  gifts,  whofe 
hearts  burned  in  love  to  Chrift  and  the  fouls  of  men. 
They  looked  upon  their  hearers  as  their  Lord  had 
done  upon  Jeruialem,  and  wept  over  them. — In  this* 
manner  they  delivered  their  meflages — and  much  peo- 
ple was  added  iMtc  the  L:rd>. 

Secondly  Emlnency  in  grace  will  direcl  your  ends  to 
the  glory  cf  Cod,  and  the  welfare  cf  men's  fouls  ; 
and  where  this  is  the  cafe  it  is  ufually  attended  with 
a  bleffiftg.  Thefe  are  ericlfl  which  God  himfelf  pur- 
fues,  and  if  we  purfue  the  fame,  we  are  labourers  to- 
gether wd%  and  may  hope  for  his  blefling  to  at- 
tend our  labours  \  but  if  we  purfue  feparate  and  felfifh 
end  .  we  walk  contrary  to  God,  and  may  expec~t  that 
God  ilk  contrary  to  us.  Whatever  apparent 
fuccefs  may  attend  a  man's  labours,  whole  ends  are 
all  is  to  be  fufpe&ed  :  either  the  furcefs  is  not 
nine,  or  if  it  be,  it  is  not  in  a-  way  of  bleffing  up- 
on him,  nor  (hall  it  turn  out  at  laft  to  his  account. 
aft  be  an  ihexpreffiUe  fatlsfa&ion,  brother,  to  be 
able  to  fay,  as  the  primitive  minifters  and .apoitlesdid, 
Jamesy  a  fervani  of  God. — Pauty  a  fervant  of  Jefu* 
Qhrtfl. — Wi  f&k  mt  yours>  but  you  I 

LaJJh, 
*  Neh,   iii.  iv.  v.  £c  «k 


a  faithful  Miniftcr.  23 

Eaniuency  in  grace  will  enable  ycu  to  hear 
profperity  in  your  mimftry  without  being  lifted  up 
•with  ir  ;  and  io  contributes  towards  it. — It  is  written 
cf  Chrivt  in  prophecy,  He  fall  build  the  temple  of  the 
Lord,  and  fall  bear  the  glory. — He  does  bear  it  in- 
deed ;  but  to  bear  glory  without  being  elated  is  no 
eafy  thing  for  us.  I  am  often  afraid  left  this  fhould 
be  one  considerable  reafon  why  m oft  of  us  have  no 
more  real  fuccefs  in  our  work  than  we  have  ;  perhaps 
it  is  not  fafe  for  us  to  be  much  owned  of  God  ;  per- 
haps we  have  not  grace  enough  to  bear  profperity  ! 

My  dear  brother,  permit  me  to  clofe  the  whole  with 
a  word  or  two  of  ferious  advice. — Firft,  watch  over 
your  (nun  foul  as  well  as  the  fouls  of  yeur  people.  Do 
not  forget  that  thought,  that  it  is  a  temptation  to 
which  minifters  are  peculiarly  liable,  while  they  keep 
the  vineyard  of  others,  to  neglect  their  own. — Far- 
ther, Know  your  own  weaknefs,  and  depend  upon  ChrtfFs 
till-fufficieJicy.  Your  work  is  great,  your  trials  may  be 
many  ;  but  let  not  your  heart  be  difcouraged.  Re- 
member what  was  faid  to  the  apoftle  Paul,  My  grace 
is  fufficient  for  thee,  my  Jlreiigth  is  made  perfcl  in  weak- 
fiefs  ; — and  the  reflection  which  he  makes  upon  it, 
When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  frong.* — Finally,  he  often 
Jooking  to  the  end  of  your  courfe,  and  viewing  yourfelf  as 
giving  an  account  of  your  fewardfl/ip.  We  muft  all  ap- 
pear before  the  judgment-feat  of  Clirift,  and  give  ac- 
count of  the  deeds  done  in  the  body.  Perhaps  there 
is  no  thought  more  folemn  than  this,  more  fuitable  to 
<be  kept  irL  view  in  all  our  undertakings,  more  awaken- 
ing in  a  thoughtlefs  hour,  or  more  cheering  to  an  up- 
right heart. 

I  have  only  to  requeft,  my  dear  brother,  that  you 
will  excufe  the  freedom  of  this  plain  addrefs.     1  have 

*    X   Cor.  xiii.  p>  ia 


£4     The  Qualifications  and  Encouragement,  &V. 

not  fpoken  fo  much  to  inftruft  you  in  things  which 
you  know  not,  as  to  remind  and  imprefs  you  with 
things  which  you  already  know.  The  Lord  blefs 
you,  and  grant  that  the  folemnities  of  this  day  may 
ever  be  remembered  both  by  you,  and  your  people, 
with  fatisfadtion.     Amen. 


SERMON     II. 


The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay  in  relig* 
ions  Concerns. 


*mGg®m&&fc»»** 


Haggai  1.  2. 


Thus  fpeahth  the  Lord  of  Hofts,  faying,  This  people  fiy, 
the  time  is  not  come,  the  imie  that  the  Lord's  houfe 
Jbould  be  built. 

WHEN  the  children  of  Judah  were  delivered 
from  their  captivity,  and  allowed  by  the  pro- 
clamation of  Cyrus  to  return  to  their  own  land,  one 
of  the  principal  things  which  attracted  their  atten- 
tion was  the  re-building  of  t£ie  houfe  of  God,  which 
had  been  deftroyed  by  the  Babylonians.  This  was  3 
work  which  Cyrus  himfelf  enjoined,  and  which  the 
hearts  of  the  people  were  much  fet  upon.  It  was  not 
however  to  be  accomplifhed  at  once;  and  as  the  wor- 
fhip  of  God  was  a  matter  of  immediate  and  indifpen- 
fable  concern,  they  fet  up  an  altar,  on  which  to  offer 
facrifices,  and  offerings,  till  fuch  time  as  the  temple 
(hould  be  built. 

In  the  fecond  year  after  their  return,  the  foundation 

of  the  Lord's  houfe  was  laid  ;  but  oppofition  being 

made  to  it  bv  the  adverfaries  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 

T  the 


iS         The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

the  work  ceafed  ail  the  days  of  Cyrus,  until  the  reign 
of  Darius,  commonly  diftinguifhed  by  the  name  of  Da- 
rius-HyJiafpis.  During  this  period,  which  feems  to 
have  been  about  fourteen  years,  the  people  funk  into 
•a  fpirit  of  indifference.  At  firft  they  defuted  from  ne- 
CefEty  ;  but  afterwards,  their  attention  being  turned  to 
the  building  and  ornamenting  of  houfes  for  themfelves, 
they  feemed  very  well  contented  that  the  houfe  of  the 
Lord  fhould  lie  wafle.  For  this  their  temper  and  con- 
duct, the  land  was  fmitten  with  barrennefs ;  fo  that 
both  the  vintage  and  the  harveft  failed  them.  God 
alfo  railed  up  Haggat  and  Zeckariuh  to  go  and  remon- 
ftrate  againft  their  fupinenefs  ;  and  the  efforts  of  thefe 
two  prophets  were  the  means  of  ftirring  up  the  peo- 
ple to  refume  the  work.* 

The  argument  which  die  people  ufed  againft  build- 
ing the  houfe  of  God,  was,  that  the  time  was  not  emu. 
It  is  pofTible  they  waited  for  a  counter  order  from  the 
Perfian  court  •,  if  fo,  they  might  have  waited  long 
enough.  A  work  of  that  nature  ought  to  have  been 
profecuted  of  their  own  accord  ;  at  leaft  they  fhould 
have  tried.  It  did  not  follow,  becaufe  they  were  hin- 
dered once,  therefore  they  fhould  never  fucceed.  Or, 
perhaps,  they  meant  to  plead  their  prefent  weaknefs  and 

j\ -jrty. — Something  like  this  feems  to  be  implied  in 
the  fourth  verfe,  where  they  are  reminded  that  they 
had  ftrength  enough  to  build  and  ornament  houfes  for 
themfelves.  It  looks  as  if  they  wifhed  to  build,  and 
lav  by  fortunes  for  themfelves  and  their  families,  and 
thmt  at  fome  future  time,  they  might  contribute  for 
the  building  of  the  houfe  of  God. 

There  is  fomething  of  this  procraftinatirig  fpirit  that 
runs  through  a  great  part  of  our  life,  and  is  of  great 
detriment  to  us  in  the  work  of  God.  We  know  of 
xnauy  things  that  fhould  be  done*  and  cannot  in  con- 

fcience 

*  See  tbc  iii-  iv.  and  v.  chapters  of  Ezra. 


in  religious  Concerns.  27 

fcience  dlre&ly  oppofe  them  •,  but  dill  we  find  excufes 
for  our  inactivity.  While  we  admit  that  many  things 
fhould  be  done  which  are  not  done,  we  are  apt  to  quiet 
curfelves  with  the  thought  that  they  need  not  be  done 
jufl  now. — The  time  is  not  come,  the  time  thai  tie  Lord's 
boufejhould  be  built. 

In  difcourfing  to  you  upon  the  fubjecr,  brethren,  I 
fhall  take  notice  of  a  few  of  the  moil  remarkable  caf:s 
in  which  this  fpirit  is  difcovered, — and  then  endeavour 
to  fhew  its  evil  nature,  and  dangerous  tendency. 

//;  rejpeel  to  the  CASES,  OR  INSTANCES,  IN  WHICH 
IT  IS  DlSCQF£REDs  a  frnaH  degree  of  obfervatlon  on 
mankind,  and  of  reflection  upon  the  workings  cf  our 
own  hearts,  will  furniih  us  with  many  of  thefe,  and 
convince  us  of  its  great  influence  on  every  defcription 
of  men,  in  almoll  all  their  religious  concerns — Panic- 
ularly, 

Firft,  It  is  by  this  plea  that  a  great  part  of  mankind 
ere  conjianily  deceiving  therxfelves  in  rcfpetl  to  a  ferious  at- 
tention to  their Jouls'  concerns. — The  concerns  of  our  fouls 
ure  doubtlt  fs  of  the  lafl:  inportance  \  and  there  are 
times  in  which  mod  men  not  only  acknowledge  this 
truth,  but  in  fome  fort  feel  the  force  of  it.  This  is 
the  cafe  efpecially  with  thofe  who  have  had  a  religious 
education,  and  have  been  ufed  to  attend  upon  the 
preaching  of  the  gofpel.  They  hear  from  the  pulpit 
that  men  mujl  be  born  again,  inujl  be  converted,  and 
become  as  little  children,  or  never  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Or  the  fame  things  arc  imprefled  upon 
them  by  fome  threatening  affliction,  or  alarming  pro- 
vidence. They  feel  themfelves  at  thofe  times  very  un- 
happy ;  and  it  is  net  unufuai  for  them  to  refolve  upon 
a  Sacrifice  cf  their  former  fins,  and  a  ierious  and  elefc 
attention  in  future  to  the  affairs  of  their  fouls.  They 
think,  while  under  thefe  impreilions,  they  will  confuler 

their 


28         Tie  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

their  ways,  they  will  enter  their  clofets,  and  fhut  to 
the  door,  and  pray  to  the  Lord  that  he  would  have 
mercy  upon  them  ;  but  alas,  no  fooner  do  they  retire 
from  the  houfe  of  God,  or  recover  from  their  afflic- 
tion, but  the  impreflion  begins  to  fubfide,  and  then  mat- 
ters of  this  fort  become  lefs  welcome  to  the  mind. 
They  muft  not  be  utterly  rejected,  but  are  let  alcnefor 
the  prefent.  As  conscience  becomes  lefs  alarmed,  and 
danger  is  viewed  at  a  greater  diftance,  the  (inner  by 
degrees  recovers  himfelf  from  his  fright,  and  difmiifes 
his  religious  concern  in  fome  fuch  manner  as  Felix  did 
his  reprover  \  Go  thy  way  for  this  thney  when  I  hade  a 
convenient  feaf on  I  will  fend  for  thee. 

It  is  thus  with  the  ardent  youth.— In  the  hour  of  fe- 
ribus  reiie£tiofl,  he  feels  that  religion  is  of  importance  ; 
but  his  heart,  (till  averfe  to  what  his  conscience  recom- 
mends, rifes  agairift  the  thought  of  facrificing  the 
prime  of  life  to  the  gloomy  duties  of  prayer  and  felf- 
denial.  He  does  not  refolve  never  to  attend  to  thefe 
things,  but  the  time  does  not  feem  to  be  come.  He 
hopes  that  God  Almighty  will  excufe  him  a  few  years 
at  haft,  and  impute  his  exceifes  to  youthful  folly  and 
imbecility. — It  is  thus  with  the  man  of '  bufnefs. — There 
zvq  times  in  which  he  is  obliged  to  retire  from  the  hur- 
ry of  life  ;  and  at  thofe  times,  thoughts  of  another  life 
may  arreft  his  attention.  Confciehcc  at  thofe  intervals 
may  fmite  him  for  his  living  without  prayer,  without 
reflection,  without  God  in  all  his  thoughts  \  and  what 
is  his  remedy  ?  Does  he  lament  his  fin,  and  implore 
mercy  through  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  ?  No>  nor  fo 
much  as  promife  to  forfake  it :  immediately  \  but  this  he 
promifes,  that  when  this  bufy  time  is  over,  and  that 
favourite  point  is  gained,  and  thofe  intricate  affairs  are 
terminated,  then  it  fhall  be  otherwife. — It  is  thus  with 
perfons  in  fugle  Ufe>  they  will  be  better  when  they  get 
fettled  in  the  world  ; — it  is  thus  with  the  incumbered 
tarent.Sk\z  looks  forward  to  the  time  \vh~n  her  family 
*  (hall 


in  religious  Concern^ 

f  :  get  off  her  hands  ; — yea,  it  is  thus  with  the  drtml  - 
ard  and  the  debauchee,  wearied  in  their  own  way,  they 
intend  to  lead  a  new  life  as  foon  as  they  can  but  {hake 
off  their  old  connexions  ; — in  fhort,  it  is  thus"  with 
great  numbers  in  all  our  towns,  and  villages,  and  con- 
gregations, they  put  off  the  great  concern  to  another 
time,  and  think  they  may  venture  at  leaft  a  little  long- 
er, till  all  is  over  with  them,  and  a  dying  hour  juft 
awakens  them,  like  the  virgins  in  the  parable,  to  bitter 
reflection  en  their  own  fatal  folly. 

But,  Secondly,  This  plea  not  only  affects  the  uncon- 
verted, but  prevents  us  all  from  undertaking  any  gre.it  er- 
go od  wort  for  the  cauje  of  Chrif,  or  the  good  of  man- 
kind.— We  fee  many  things  that  fhould  be  done,  but 
there  are  difficulties  in  the  way,  and  we  wait  for  thefe 
difficulties  being  all  removed.  We  are  very  apt  to  in- 
dulge a  kind  cf  prudent  caution  (fo  we  call  it)  which 
fbrefees  and  magnifies  difficulties  beyond  what  they 
really  arc.  It  is  granted  there  may  be  fuch  things  in 
the  way  of  an  undertaking,  as  may  render  it  imprac- 
ticable, and  in  that  cafe  it  is  our  duty  for  the  pre  fen  t 
to  ftand  flrill  ;  but  it  becomes  us  to  beware  left  we  ac- 
count that  impracticable  which  only  requires  fuch  a  de- 
gree of  exertion  as  we  are  not  inclined  to  give  it. — Per- 
haps the  work  requires  expenfe,  and  covetoufnefs  f&ySj 
wait  a  little  longer,  till  I  have  gained  fo  and  fo  in  trade^ 
till  I  have  rendered  my  circumftances  refpectabie,  alia 
fettled  my  children  comfortably  in  the  world.  But  is 
not  this  like  ceiling  our  own  houfes,  while  the  houfe 
cf  God  lies  wafte  ? — Perhaps  it  requires  concurrt 
and  we  wait  for  every  body  being  of  a  mind,  whicl 
never  to  be  expefted.  He.  who,  through  a  drea< 
oppofition  and  reproach,  defifts  from  known  duty,  h 
in  danger  of  being  found  amongft  the  fearful,  tL  . 
i  r/fgj  and  the  abominable. 

Had 

Y  z 


30         The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

Had  Luther y  and  his  cotemporaries,  acted  upon  tliii 
principle,  they  had  never  gone  about  the  glorious  work 
of  Reformation.  When  he  faw  the  abominations  of 
popery,  he  might  have  faid,  "  Theft  things  ought  not 
to  be,  but  what  can  /  do  ?  If  the  chief  priefts  and  ru- 
lers in  different  nations  would  but  unite,  fomething 
might  be  effected  ;  but  what  can  /do,  an  individual, 
and  a  poor  man  ?  I  may  render  myfelf  an  ojeft  of 
perfecution,  or,  which  is  worfe,  of  univerfal  contempt, 
and  what  good  end  will  be  anfwered  by  it  ?"  Had  Lu- 
ther reafoned  thus,  had  he  fancied  that  becaufe  princes 
and  prelates  were  not  the  firft  to  engage  in  the  good 
work,  therefore  the  time  was  not  come  to  build  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord  ;  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  for  any 
thing  he  had  done,  might  have  lain  wade  to  this  day. 

Inftead  of  waiting  for  the  removal  of  difficulties,  we 
ought  in. many  cafes  to  confider  them  as  purpofely  bid 
in  cur  way,  in  order  to  try  the  fincerity  of  our  religion. 
He  who  had  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  could  have 
not  only  fent  forth  his  apoftles  into  all  the  world,  but 
have  fo  ordered  it  that  all  the  world  mould  treat  them 
with  kindnefs,  and  aid  them  in  their  million ;  but  in- 
ftead of  that,  he  told  them  to  lay  their  accounts  with 
perfecution  and  the  lofs  of  all  things.  This  was,  no 
doubt,  to  try  their  fincerity  •,  and  the  difficulties  laid 
in  our  way  are  equally  defigned  to  try  ours. 

Let  it  be  confidered  whether  rt  is  not  owing  to  this 
principle  that  fo  few  and  fo  feeble  efforts  have  been 
made  for  the  propagation  of  the  gofpel  in  the  world. 
When  the  Lord  Jefus  commiffioned  his  apoftles,  he 
commanded  them  to— Go,  and  teach  all  nations^  to 
preach  the  gofpel  to  every  creature ;  and  that  notwiths- 
tanding the  difficulties  and  oppofition  that  would  lie 
in  the  way.  The  apoftles  executed  their  commiffion 
with  affiduity  and  fidelity ;  but  fince  their  days,  we 
feem  to  fit  down  half  contented  that  the  greater  part 
- —  -  ■  of 


in  religious  Concerns.  31 

of  the  world  Pnould  Hill  remain  in  ignorance  and  idol- 
atry. Some  noble  efforts  indeed  have  been  made,  but 
y  are  but  fmall  in  number  when  compared  witii  trie 
magnitude  of  the  objecl.  And  Why  is  it  fo  ?  Are  the 
fouls  of  men  of  lefs  value  than  heretofore  ?  No.  Is 
Chriftianity  lefs  true,  or  lefs  important  than  in  former 
ages  ?  This  will  not  be  pretended.  Are  there  no  op- 
portunities for  focieties,  or  individuals  in  Chriftian  na- 
tions, to  convey  the  gofpel  to  the  heathens  ?  This  can- 
not be  pleaded  fo  long  as  opportunities  are  found  to 
trade  with  them,  yea,  and  what  i-s  a  difgrace  to  the 
name  of  Chriftians,  to  buy  them,  and  fell  them,  and 
treat  them  with  Worfe  than  lavage  barbarity  !  We 
have  opportunities  in  abundance  ;  the  improvement  of 
navigation,  and  the  maritime  and  commercial  turn  cf 
of  this  country,  furnifh  us  with  thefe  ;  and  it  deferves 
to  be  confidered,  whether  this  is  not  a  circurnftance 
that  renders  it  a  duty  peculiarly  binding  upon  us. 

The  truth  is,  if  I  am  not  miftaken,  we  wait  for  we 
know  not  what  ;  we  feem  to  think  the  time  is  not  come, 
the  time  for  the  Spirit  to  be  poured  down  from  en  hi<*h. 
We  pray  for  the  converlion  and  falvation  cf  the  world, 
and  yet  negleQ:  the  ordinary  means  by  which  thofe 
ends  have  been  ufed  to  be  accomplifhed.  It  pleafed 
God,  heretofore,  by  the  foclifhnefs  of  preaching,  to  fave 
them  that  believed  ;  and  there  is  reaforl  to  think  it 
will  ftill  pleafe  God  to  work  by  that  diftingnimed 
mean.  Ought  we  not  then  to  try,  at  leaft,  by  forne 
means,  to  convey  more  of  the  good  tidings  of  faivation 
to  the  world  around  us,*  than  have  hitherto  been  con- 
veyed ? 

*  It  may  not  be  amifs  to  inform  the  reader,  that  at  the  time  of 
the  above  difecurfc  being  delivered,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carey  of  .Leicefter, 
was  prefent  After  wcrfhip,  when  the  minifters  were  together,  he 
moved  the  queflion,  "  Wleihef  fomething  might  not  be  done  in  the  kvky 
cf  fending  the  geffel  into  the  heathen  world  V*  It  was  well  known  at 
the  fame  time  that  Mr.  Carey  had  written  a  judicious  piece  upon 
the-fubje<5t,  which  he  had  by  him  in  manufcript,  Chewing  the  duty  of 
Chriftians  in  that  matter,  and  the  practicability  of  the  undertaking-. 
It  was  therefore  agreed,  as  the  firft  ftep  proper  to  be  taken,  that  ^Ifi 
C7.&S7  be  recpeiUdto  jrevife  and  prifit  his  manufcript, 


.  jluaicc  cf  Delay 
e  encouragement  to  the  heathen  is  ftill  in 

force,    IVUJjSQEVER  SHALL  CALL  UPCN  THE  XAME 

OF  THE  LORD  SHALL  BE  SA^ED  ;    hut  how  f J  all  they 

i  thy  have  nit  believed  ?  And  hnofhall 

the  him  cf  whom  they  have   not  heard?  And 

\r  without  a  preacher  ?  And  how  pall 

they  be  fent  ?   Rom.  x.  13 — ij. 

Le:  irbe  farther  confidered,  whether  it  Is  not  owing 
to  this  principle  that  fo  few  and  fo  feeble  efforts  are 
made  for  the  propagation  of  the  gofpei  in  places  with- 
.r  reach. — There  are  many  dark  places  in  our  own 
land,  places  where  prieils  and  people,  it  is  to  be  feared* 
are  alike  deftltute  of -true  religion,  all  /'coking  to  their 
own  way>  every  0:1  e  for  his  gain  from  his  quarter.  Were 
every  friend  of  Jeius  Chrift  to  avail  himfelf  of  that  lib- 
erty which  the  laws  of  hfs  country  allow  him,  and 
embrace  every  opportunity  for  the  diilemination  of 
evangelical  principles,  \  :c"ts  might  we  hope  to 

fee  ?  Were  every  true  minifter  of  the  gofpei  to  it 
a  point  of  preaching  as  often  as  poflibfe  in  the  villages 
within  his  reach,  and  were  thole  private  Chriftians  who 
are  fituated  in  fucb  villages  to  open  their  doors  for 
preaching,  and  recommend  the  gofpei  by.  a  holy  and 
;  rlectionate  behaviour,  might  we  not  hope  to  fee  the 
wilJernefs  become  as  a  fruitful  field  ?  Surely  in  thefe 
matters  we  are  too  negligent. — And  when  we  do 
preach  to  the  unconverted,  we  do  not  feel  as  if  we 
were  to  do  any  good.  We  are  as  if  we  knew  not  how 
to  get  at  the  hearts  and  confidences  of  people.  We 
caft  the  net,  without  fo  much  as  expecting  a  draught. 
We  are  as  thofe  who  cannot  find  their  hands  in  the 
day  or"  battle  5  who  go  forth  not  like  men  inured  to 
lieftj  but  rather  Ike  thofe  inured  to  defeat. — 
Whence  arifes  all  this  ?  Is  it  not  owing,  at  leafl  a  con- 
fiderahle  degree  of  it,  to  a  notion  we  have,  that  the  tine 
is  not  come  for  any  thing  considerable  to  be  effected  ? 

Thirdly, 


m  religious  Concern*.  33 

Thirdly,  It  is  this  plea  that  keeps  many  from  a  public 
profeffion  of  religion  y  by  a  practical  acknowledgment  of 
Chri/l. — Ohrift  requires  of  his  followers  that  they  con- 
fefs  his  name  before  men,  that  they  be  baptized,  and 
commemorate  his  dying  love  in  the  ordinance  of  the 
Supper.  Yet  there  are  many  who  confider  themfelves 
as  Chriflians,  and  are  confidered  fa  by  others,  who  ftill 
Jive  in  the  negleft  of  thefe  ordinances.  I  fpeak  not 
now  of  thofe  who  confider  themfelves  as  having  been 
baptized  in  their  infancy,  but  of  fuch  who  admit  adult 
immerfion  to  be  the  only  true  baptifm,  and  yet  do  net 
praftife  it,  nor  hold  communion  with  any  particular 
church  of  Chrift.  It  is  painful  to  think  there  fhould 
be  a  defcription  of  prof e  fled  Chriflians,  who  live  in  the 
negle£t  of  Chrift's  commands.  What  can  be  the  mo- 
tives of  fuch  ■  negleft  ?■  Probably  they  are  various; 
there  is  one,  however,  that  mud  have  fallen  under  your 
cbfervation,  that  is,  the  want  of  feme  powerful  imprejficn 
upon  the  mindy  impelling  ihemy  as  it  were>  to  a  compliance* 
Many  perfons  wait  fcr  Something  of  this  fort,  and  be- 
caufe  they  go  from  year  to  year  without  it,  conclude 
that  the  time  is  not  come,  or  that  it  is  not  the  mind  of 
God  that  they  fliould  comply  with  thofe  ordinances,  at 
leaft  that  they  fhould  comply  with  then)  at  prefent* 
^ImpreiTions,  it  is  allowed,  are  deferable,  provided" it  be 
truth  or  duty  that  is  impreSed,  otherwife  they  deferve 
no  regard  ;  but  be  they  as  deferable  as  they  may,  the 
want  of  them  can  never  juftify  our  living  in  the  neg- 
lect of  known  duty.  Nor  are  they  at  all  adapied  to 
£hew  us  what  is  duty,  but  merely  to  excite  to  the  per- 
formance of  that  which  may  be  proved  to  be;  duty 
without  them,  We  might  as  well  wait  for  impref- 
fions,  and  conclude  from  the  want  of  them. that  the 
time  is  not  come  for  the  performance  of  other  duties, 
as  thofe  of  baptifm  and  the  Lord's  fupper. 

Some  arc  kept  from  a  public  profeffion  of  Chrift's 
name  by  mere   mercenary  motives.     They  have  rela- 
tions 


34         The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

tions  and  friends  that  would  be  offended.  The  fear 
of  being  difinhcrited,  or  Injured  in  fume  fort  as  to 
worldly  cireum  fiances,  has  made  many  a  perfon  keep 
his  principles  to  himfelf,  till  fuch  time  as  the  party 
whofe  difpleafure  he  fears  (hall  be  removed  out  of  the 
way.  This  is  wicked,  as  it  amounts  to  a  denial  of 
Chrift  before  men,  and  will  no  doubt  expofe  the  pnr- 
ty,  if  he  die  without  repentance  for  it,  to  a  being  deni- 
ed by  Chrift  before  his  Father  at  the  la  ft  day.  Lord, 
faid  one,  I  will  follow  thee,  hut  let  mefrft  go  and  bury  my 
father — let  mefirfl  go  and  bid  them  farewell  who  are  at 
home,  fays  another.  Jefus  oftfwereJ,  Let  the  dead  bury 
their  dead)  follow  thou  me — No  man,  having  put  his  hand 
to the  plough  and  looking  bad)  is  ft  fir  the  kingdom  of 
God.3* 

Fourthly,  It  is  this  plea  that  keeps  us  from  a  tlior- 
0VLgh fe/f 'examination,  m&  felf-deniaL — The  importance 
of  being  right  in  the  fight  of  God,  and  our  liability  to 
err,  even  in  the  greateft  of  all  concern?,  renders  a  clofe 
and  frecuent  inquiry  into  our  fpiritual  flate  abfolutely 
neceffary.  It  is  a  dangerous  as  wett  as  an  uncomfort- 
able life  to  be  always  in  fufpenfe,  not  knowing  what, 
nor  where  we  are,  nor  whither  we  are  going.  There 
arc  feafons  too  in  which  we  feel  the  importance  of 
fuch  an  inquiry,  and  think  we  will  go  about  it,  we 
will  fearch  and  try  our  way?,  and  turn  from  our  fins, 
and  walk  more  clofely  with  God.  Such  thoughts  will 
occur  when  we  hear  matters  urged  home  upon  us  from 
the  pulpit,  or  when  forne  afit&ing  event  draws  off  our 
attention  from  the  prefdnt  world,  and  caufes  us  to  re- 
flect noon  ourfelves"  for  our  inordinate  anxiety  after  it. 
"We  think  of  living  otherwlfe  than  we  have  done  ;  but 
when  we  come  to  put  our  thoughts  into  execution,  we 
find  a  number  of  difficulties  in  the  way,  which  toe 
often  deter  us,  at  leail  for  the  frefirit.  "  xleer  is  an  un- 
dertaking that  nruft  firft  be  accomplifhed  before  I  can 

have 

9  Luke  ix  S9 — 6 2- 


in  religions  C,n::r:  35 

habe  time  -,  here  is  nlfo  a  tfc  e  affair  that  I  muft 

get  through  before  I  can  be  cotnpofed\  and  then,  here 
a:*e  fujh  temptations  that  I  knew  not  how  to  get  c 
jujl  now — if  I  wait  a  little  longer,  perhaps  they  may 
be  removed." — Alas,  alas,  thus  we  befool  ourfelves  ! 
thus  we  put  it  off  to  another  time,  till  the  impreflions 
on  our  minds  are  worn  off,  and  then  we  are  lefs  able 
to  attend  to  thofe  tilings  than  we  were  at  firft.  As 
one  who  puts  olFthe  examination  of  his  accounts,  and 
the  retrenchment  of  his  expenfes,  till  all  on  a  fudden 
he  is  involved  in  a  bankruptcy ;  fo  do  multitudes  in 
the  religious  world  neglect  a  clofe  infpeclion  into  their 
fouls'  concerns,  till  at  length,  either  a  departure  from 
ibme  of  the  great  principles  of  the  gofpcl,  or  fome 
fou!  and  open  fall,  is  the  confluence. 

Finally,  It  is  this  principle  that  keeps  us  from  pre- 

parednefs  fir  death,  a  being  ready   tvhen  our  Lord  Jhall 

come. — There  13  nothing  that  Chrift  has  more  forcibly 

enjoined  than  this  duty. — Be  ye  a!fo  ready,  for  at  fuch 

an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  Man  comcth. — What  I 

fay  unto  you  I  fay  unto  all.  Watch.      V/hy  do  we  not  im- 

*  mediately  feel  the  force  of  thefe  charges,  and  betake 

ourfelves  to  habitual  watchful nefs,  and  prayer,  and  felf- 

denial,  and  walking  with  God  I  Why  are   we  not  as 

men  who  wait  for  the  coming  of  their  Lord  ?  Is  it  not 

n  a  fecret  thought,  that  the  time  is  not  come  ?  We 

w  we  muft  die,  but  we  conGder  it  as  fomething  at 

a  diftance  ;  and  thus  imagining  that  our  Lord  delayeth 

his  coming,  we  delay  to  prepare  to  meet  him,  fo  that 

when  he  cometh  he  findeth  us  in  confufion.     In  (lead 

of  our  loins  being  girt,  and  our  lights  burning,  we  are 

engaged  in  a  number  of  plans  and  purfuits  to  the  neg- 

left  of  thofe  things,  which,  notwithstanding  the  necef- 

fery  avocations  of  life,  ought   always  to  cngrcft  our 

preme  attention.  - 

But 


36         The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

But  let  us  next  proceed  to  confider  the  EVIL  NA- 
TURE and  DANGEROUS  TENDENCY  of  this  procrafti- 
nating  temper. 

I  need  not  fay  much  to  prove  to  you  that  it  is  a 
fin.  The  confcience  of  every  one  of  you  will  affift 
me  in  that  part  of  the  work.  It  is  proper,  however, 
in  order  that  you  may  feel  it  the  more  forcibly,  that 
you  fhould  confider  wherein  its  evil  nature  confifts. 

Firft,  It  is  contrary  to  the  tenor  of  all  God's  com- 
xnandments.  All  through  the  fcriptures  we  are  re- 
quired to  attend  to  divine  things  immediately,  and 
without  delay. — Work  while  it  is  called  to-day  ;  the 
flight  ccmetb  when  no  man  can  work — To  day,  if  ye  will 
hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts — While  ye  have  the 
light,  believe  in  the  light,  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of 
light — Whatfoever  thy  hand  fndeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy 
might ;  for  there  is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge* 
:i:r  wifdom  in  the  .grave  whither  thou  goe/I.* 

God  not  only  requires  us  in  general  what  we  do  to 
Jo  quickly,  but  calls  us  to  ferve  him  particularly  under 
ihofe  temptations  or  afflictions,  which  we  find  placed  in 
our  way.  The  terms  of  difciplefhip  are,  deny  thyfclf 
take  up  thy  crofs,  and  follow  me.  He  does  not  call  upon 
us  to  follow  him  barely  when  there  are  no  -troubles, 
nor  difficulties  to  encounter,  nor  allow  us,  when  thofe 
difficulties  occur,  to  wait  a  fairer  opportunity  ;  but  to 
take  our  crofs  as  it  were  upon  our  {boulders,  and  fo 
follow  him.  It  would  be  of  ufe  for  us  to  confider 
every  fituation  as  a  poit  in  which  God  hath  placed  us, 
and  in  which  he  calls  upon  us  to  ferve  and  glorify 
him — If  we  are  poor,  we  are  required  to  glorify  God 
by  contentment  •,  if  afiiifted,  by  patience  ;  if  bereav- 
ed, by  fubmiiTion  ;;  if  perfecuted,  by  firmnefs  \  if  in- 
jured, by  forgivenefs  ',  or  if  tempted,  by  denying  ouf- 

felve* 
*  John,  is.  4,         VfaL  *cv.  7^-8.         Ecc,  ix,  to* 


in  religious  Concerns.  37 

felves  for  his  fake.  Nor  can  thefe  duties  be  perform- 
ed at  any  other  times  ;  to  put  them  off,  therefore,  to 
another  opportunity,  is  the  fame  thing  in  effect,  as  re- 
fufing  to  comply  with  them  at  all. 

Secondly,  To  put  off  things  to  another  time,  im- 
plies a  lurking  diflike  to  the  things  themfelves.  We 
do  not  ordinarily  do  {o9  except  in  things  wherein  we 
have  no  delight.  Whatever  our  hearts  are  fet  upon, 
we  are  for  lofing  no  time  till  it  is  accomplifhed.  If 
the  people  of  Judah  had  had  a  mind  to  work,  as  is  faid 
of  them  on  another  occafion,  they  would  not  have 
pleaded  that  the  time  was  not  come.  Sinful  delay, 
therefore,  arifes  from  alienation  of  heart  from  God>  than 
which  nothing  can  be  more  offenfive  in  his  fight. 

But  farther,  it  is  not  only  a  fin,  but  a  fin  of  danger* 
■ous  tendency. — This  is  manifeft  by  the  effects  it  pro- 
duces. Precious  time  is  thereby  murdered,  and  val- 
uable opportunities  loft,  and  loft  beyond  recall  ! 

That  there  are  opportunities  poffeffed  both  by  faints 
and  finners  is  plain  from  the  fcriptures.  The  former 
might  do  abundantly  more  for  God  than  they  do,  and 
might  enjoy  much  more  of  God  and  heaven  than  they 
actually  enjoy  ;  and  no  doubt  it  would  be  fo,  were  it 
not  for  that  idle  delaying  temper  of  which  we  have 
fpoken.  Like  the  Ifraelites,  we  are  flothful  to  go  up 
to  poffefs  the  good  land.  Many  are  the  opportunities 
both  of  doing  and  enjoying  good,  that  have  already 
pafled  by.  O,  what  Chriftians  might  we  have  been 
before  now,  had  we  but  availed  ourfelves  of  all  thofe 
advantages,  which  the  gofpel  difpenfation,  and  the 
free  exercife  of  our  religion  afford  us  ! 

Sinners  alfo,  as  long  as  life  lafts,  have  opportunity 
of  efcaping  from  the  wrath  to  come.     Hence  they 

are 
Z 


38         The  pernicious  Influence  of  Delay 

are  exhorted  to  feel  the  Lord  ivhlle  he  may  be  found) 
and  to  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near.  Hence  alfo 
there  is  a  door  reprefented  as  being  at  prefent  open, 
which  the  mafter  of  the  houfe  ivill  one  day  rife  up  and 
flmt.  The  fountain  is  defcribed  as  being  at  prefent 
open  for  Jin ,  and  for  uncleannefs  ;  but  there  is  a  period 
approaching,  when  it  ill  all  be  faid,  He  that  is  filthy  > 
ut  him  be  filthy  jlill  /*  It  feems  fcarcely  in  the  power 
of  language  to  exprefs  the  danger  of  delay  in  terms 
more  forcible  and  impreffive  than  thofe  which  arc 
ufed  in  the  above  paffages. — Nor  is  there  any  thing 
in  the  idea  that  clafhes  with  the  fcripture  do&rine  of 
decrees.  All  allow  that  men  have  opportunity  in  nat- 
ural things,  to  do  what  they  do  not,  and  to  obtain 
what  they  obtain  not  ;  and  if  this  can  be  made  to 
conn  ft  with  an  univerfal  providence,  which  perfvrmeth 
the  things  that  are  appointed  for  us  ;  why  ihould  not  the 
other  be  allowed  to  confift  with  the  purpofes  of  Him, 
who  does  nothing  without  a  plan,  but  worheth  all 
things  after  the  counfel  of  his  own  will  ?  A  price  is  in 
the  hands  of  thofe  who  have  no  heart  to  get  wifdom, 

O  though tlefs  finner,  trifle  no  longer  with  the  mur- 
der of  time  !  time,  fo  fhort  and  uncertain  in  its  dura^ 
tion  ;  the  morning  of  your  exiftence,  the  mould  in 
which  vou  receive  an  impreffion  for  eternity,  the  only- 
period  in  which  the  Son  of  Man  hath  power  to  for- 
give fins  !  Should  the  remaining  part  of  your  life  pafs 
away  in  the  fame  carelefs  manner  as  that  has,  which 
is  already  elapfed,  what  bitter  reflection  muft  needs 
follow  !  How  cutting  it  muft  be  to  look  back  on  all 
the  means  of  falvation,  as  gone  for  ever  \  the  harveft 
paft,  the  fummer  ended,  and  you  not  fayed  ! 

Suppofe  a  company,  at  the  time  of  low  water,  (hould 
take  an  excuriion  upon  the  fands  near  the  lea  fhore — 
Suppofe  yourfelf  of  the  company — Suppofe,  that  on  a 

prefumption 

*  Ifa*.  It.  6,  7,      Luke  siii.  aj.      Zech.  xiii.  1.      Rer.  xiii.  11. 


in  religious  Concerns.  39 

prefumption  of  the  tide's  not  returning  at  prefent,  you 
ihould  all  fall  afleep — Suppofe  all  the  company,  ex- 
cept yourfelf,  to  awake  out  of  their  fleep,  and  finding 
their  danger,  endeavour  to  awake  you,  and  to  perfuade 
you  to  flee  with  them  for  your  life — But  you,  like  the 
iluggard,  are  for  a  little  more  Jleep,  and  a  little  more 
Jl umber — the  confequence  is,  your  companions  efcape, 
but  you  are  left  behind  to  periih  in  the  waters,  which, 
regardlefs  of  all  your  cries,  rife  and  overwhelm  you  ! 
What  a  fituation  would  this  be  !  How  would  yen 
curfe  that  love  of  fleep  that  made  you  refufe  to  be 
awaked,  that  delaying  temper  that  wanted  to  indulge 
a  little  longer  !  But  what  is  this  fituation,  compared 
with  that  of  a  loft  foul  ?  There  will  come  a  period 
when  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  would  be  deemed  a 
refuge  ;  when  to  be  crufhed  under  falling  rocks  and 
mountains,  inftead  of  being  viewed  with  terror  as 
heretofore,  will  be  earneftly  defired  !  Yes,  defired, 
but  defired  in  vain  !  The  finner,  who  hath  neglecled 
the  great  falvation,  will  not  be  able  to  efcape,  nor  hide 
himfelf  from  the  face  of  him  that  fit teth  upon  the  throne^ 
nor  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  ! 

My  dear  hearers  !  confider  your  condition  without 
delay — God  fays  to  you,  "To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his 
voice,  harden  not  your  hearts — To-day  may  be  the 
only  day  you  have  to  live — Go  home,  enter  the  clof- 
et,  and  fhut  the  door — confefs  your  fins — implore 
mercy  through  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift — Kifs  the  Son 
left  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perifh  from  the  way,  when  his 
wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little  ;  blejftd  afe  all  they  that  put 
their  trufl  in  him  I 


SERMON     III. 


The    Importance    of  a    deep    and  intimate 
Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth. 


■^s*^^^^^^^^^^^***3" 


Hebrews  v.   12,  13,  14. 

For  when  for  the  time  ye  ought  to  be  teachers,  ye  have  need 
that  one  teach  you  again  which  be  the  firfl  principles  of 
the  oracles  of  God ;  and  are  become  fuch  as  have  need 
of  milk,  and  not  of  Jlrong  meat.  For  every  one  thai 
ufeth  milky  is  unfkilfui  in  the  word  of  right  eoufnefs  ;  for 
he  is  a  babe.  But  Jlrong  meat  belongeth  to  them  that 
are  of  full  age,  even  thofe  who  by  reafon  ofufe  have  their 
fenfts  exercifed  to  difcern  both  good  and  evil. 

THERE  is  nothing  in  which  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  and  the  kingdom  of  Satan  are  more  op- 
pofed.  than  that  the  one  is  characterized  by  light,  and 
the  other  by  darknefs.  The  caufe  of  falfehood  is  it- 
felf  a  dark  caufe,  and  requires  darknefs  to  cover  it : 
but  truth  is  light,  and  cometh  to  the  light,  that  it  may 
be  made  rnanifeft.  Knowledge  is  every  where  encour- 
aged in  the  Bible  ;  our  bed  interefts  are  interwoven 
with  it ;  and  the  fpirituality  of  our  minds,  and  the  real 
enjoyment  of  our  lives  depend  upon  its  increafe. 
Grace  and  peace  are  multiplied  through  the  knowledge  of 
God,  and  of  Jefus  our  Lord.  Nor  is  it  neceflary  for 
our  own  fakes  only,  but  for  the  fake  of  others.  It  is 
Z  2  a  great 


42       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

a  great  encouragement  to  Chriftian  miniflers,  when 
thole  whom  they  teach  pofief*  a  good  underftanding 
in  the  things  of  God.  Indeed,  none  but  thofe  who 
are  engaged  in  the  work  of  teaching  can  tell  how  much 
the  ardour  of  the  mind  is  damped  by  the  contrary. — 
The  truth  of  this  remark  is  exemplified  in  the  writer 
of  this  erfftle.  In  the  verfes  immediately  preceding 
the  text,  you  perceive  him  highly  interefted  in  his  fub- 
jeft,  and  proceeding  in  a  glorious  career  of  reafoning; 
when,  all  on  a  fudden,  he  is  flopped.  He  had  many 
things  to  fay  of  his  Lord  and  Mailer,  but  which  were 
hard  to  be  under/lood,  feeing  thofe  to  whom  he  wrote  ivere 
dull  of  hearing.  It  is  on  this  occafion  that  he  introdu- 
ces the  paflage  now  before  us ;  in  which  his  objefl  is 
to  fhame  and  provoke  them,  by  comparing  them  with 
thofe  who,  as  to  years,  were  men,  but,  as  to  knowl- 
edge, children  ;  and  who,  inftead  of  having  made  ad- 
vances in  fcience,  needed  to  be  taught  the  alphabet 
over  again.  There  are  fome  tilings  fuppofed  and  in- 
cluded in  the  paffage,  which  require  a  little  previous 
attention. 

Fuji — It  is  here  fuppofed,  that  all  divine  knowledge 
is  to  be  derived  from  the  oracles  of  God,  It  is  a  proper 
term  by  which  the  facred  fcriptures  are  here  denomi- 
nated, ftrongly  expreflive  of  their  divine  infpiration  and 
infallibility :  in  them  God  fpeaks  •,  and  to  them  it  be- 
comes us  to  hearken.  We  may  learn  other  things  from 
other  quarters  ;  and  things  too  that  may  fubferve  the 
knowledge  of  God  ;  but  the  knowledge  of  God  itfelf 
mud  here  be  fought,  for  here  only  it  can  be  found. 

Much  has  been  faid  of  faith  and  veafon,  and  the 
queftion  has  often  been  agitated,  whether  the  one,  in 
any  inftance,  can  be  contrary  to  the  other  ?  In  the  fo- 
lation  of  this  queftion,  it  is  neceflary,  in  the  firft  place, 
to  determine  what  is  meant  by  reafon.  There  is  a 
great  difference  between  reafw7  and  reafoning.  Noth- 
ing 


Knowledge  cf  Divine  Truth.  43 

which  God  reveals  can  contradict  the  former  -y 
but  this  is  more  than  can  be  faid  of  the  latter.  It  is 
impoiFible  for  God  to  reveal  any  thing  repugnant  to 
what  is  fit  and  fight  *,  but  that  which  is  fit  and  right 
i.i  oyiq  man's  edimaticn,  is  prepoiterous  and  abiurci 
irt  the  efieem  oi  another  ;  which  clearly  proves,  that 
reafon,  as  it  exifts  in  depraved  creatures,  is  not  a  prop- 
er ftandard  of  truth  ;  and  hence  arifes  the  neceflity 
of  another  and  a  better  ftandard,  the  Grades  of  God. 
By  Studying  thefe,  a  good  man  will  gain  more  under- 
ftanding  than  his  teachers,  if  they  live  in  the  neglect 
of  them. 

Secondly — It  is*fuppofed,  that  the  oracles  of  God  in- 
clude a  fyftem  of  divine  truth.  They  contain  xhzjirji 
principles,  of  rudiments,  of  religion,  the  fimple  truths 
of  the  gofpel,  which  require  little  or  no  inveftigation 
in  order  to  their  being  understood  :  thefe  are  called 
milk.  They  alio  contain  the  deep  things  of  God, 
things  beyond  the  reach  of  a  flight  and  curfory  obfer- 
ration  ;  and  which  require,  if  we  would  properly  en- 
fet  into  them,  ctofe  and  repeated  attention  ;  this  is 
Jlrong  meat.  Thofe  doctrines,  which  the  apoftle  enu- 
merates in  the  following  chapter,  as  things  which  he 
ihould  leave  anchgo  on  unto  perfection ,  have  been  thought 
to  refer  to  the  leading  principles  of  Judaifm  :  and  it  may 
be  fo  \  for  Judaifm  itfelf  contained  the  firft  principles 
of  Christianity  :  it  was  introductory  to  it  •,  or,  as  it  is 
elfewhere  expreiTed,  it  was  our  fcbool-majler  to  bring  us 
to  Chri/h 

Thirdly — It  is  intimated  that  Christians  ihould  not 
reft  fatisfied  in  having  attained  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
firft  principles  of  the  doctrine  of  Chrift,  but  mould  go 
on  unto  perfection  ;  not  only  fo  as  to  obtain 
tion  for  themfelves,  but  that  they  may  be  able  to  teach 
ethers.  It  is  true,  all  are  ;:ot  to  be  teachers  by  office  ;  but 
in  one  form  or  other,  all  ihould  afpire  to  communicate 

the 


44       ST2tf  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

the  knowledge  of  Chrifl.  Every  Chriftian  is  required 
to  be  ready  to  give  a  reafon  of  the  hope  that  is  in  him 
with  meeknefs  and  fear  :  and  if  all  the  members  of  our 
churches  did  but  poffefs  this  readinefs,  befides  the  ad- 
vantages that  would  accrue  to  thernfelves  and  others, 
there  would  be  lefs  fcarcity  than  there  is  of  able  and 
evangelical  minifters. 

The  leading  fentiment  which  runs  through  the  paf- 
fage,  and  comprifes  the  whole,  is,  the  importance 

OF    A    DEEP    AND    INTIMATE*   KNOWLEDGE    OF    DIVINE 

truth.  To  this  fubje£t,  brethren,  permit  me  to  call 
your  attention.  In  difcourfing  upon  it,  I  (hall  firft  in- 
quire wherein  it  confifts,  and  then  endeavour  to  fhew 
the  importance  of  it. 

I.  Lei  us  inquire,  what  a  Jeep  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  divine  truth  includes. 

That  the  cracks  of  God  contain  deep  things,  requires 
but  little  proof.  The  character  of  God  ;  our  own  de- 
pravity ;  and  that  great  myftery  of  godlinefs,  God  man*- 
ifeft  in  the  flefh,  &c.  are  deep  and  interesting  fubje&s. 
The  prophets  had  to  fearch  into  the  meaning  of  their 
own  prophecies.  I  Peter  i.  i  o. — Thu  riches  of  Chrift, 
with  which  the  apoftles  wrere  intrufted,  were  denom- 
inated unfearchable,  Eph*  iii.  8  \  and  even  the  higheft 
orders  of  created  intelligences  are  defcribed  as  locking 
into  ihefe  things  for  their  farther  improvement.      I  Pet* 

r.  12. 

It  may  feem  prefuming  for  any  perfon,  in  the  prefent 
imperfeft  ftate,  to  determine  on  fubje£ts  of  fuch  mag- 
nitude -,  or  to  talk  of  a  deep  and  intimate  know-l- 
edge of  things  which  furpafs  the  comprehenfion  of  the 
xnoft  exalted  creatures.  And  if  thefe  terms  were  ufed 
either  abfoluiely,  to  exprefs  the  real  conformity  of  our 
ideas  of  divine  things  to  the  full  extent  of  the  things 

thernfelves  \ 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  45 

themfelves  ;  or  even  comparatively,  if  the  companion 
refpecled  faints  on  earth  and  faints  in  heaven,  it  would 
be  prefumption.  But  it  is  only  in  reference  to  one 
another  in  the  prefent  ftate,  that  thefe  terms  are  intend- 
ed to  apply.  Compared  with  the  heavenly  inhabitants, 
all  of  us  are  babes :  even  an  inlpired  apoftle  was  no 
more,  -When  1  was  a  child,  faid  he,  I  f  pake  as  a  child, 
I  underflood  as  a  child,  I  thought  as  a  child  :  but  when  I 
became  a  man,  I  put  away  child'flj  things.  For  new  we 
fee  through  a  glafs  darkly,  but  then  face  to  face :  now  I 
know  in  party  but  ihenjlialllknow  even  as  aljo  I  am  knonvn. 
I  Cor.  xiii.  11,  12.  There  are  fuch  degrees,  however, 
amongft  good  men  in  this  life,  as  that,  compared  with 
each  other,  foine  may  be  faid  to  poffefs  only  a  fuperfi- 
tial  knowledge  of  divine  truth,  and  others  a  more  deep 
and  intimate  acquaintance  with  it. 

It  is  the  importance  of  the  latter  of  thefe  that  I  wifo 
to  harce  impreiled  upon  our  minds.  To  attain  it,  the 
following,  amioagft  other  things,  require  our  attention. 

I.      Though  we  mitjt  notjlop  at  firft  principles  y  yet  we 
\  i  be  well  grounded  in  them. 

No  perfon  can  drink  deeply  into  any  feie nee  without 
being  well  acquainted  with  its  rudiments  :  thefe  are  the 
foundation  on  which  the  whole  ftrudture  refts.  The 
firft  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God,  as  fpecified  by 
our  apoftle,  are  repentance  from  dead  works,  faith  towards 
God,  the  doclrine  of  baptifms,  and  the  laying  on  of  handsy 
the  refurreclion  of  the  dead,  and  eternal  judgment.  What- 
ever may  be  meant  by  fome  of  thefe  terms,  whether 
they  refer  to  things  peculiar  to  Judaifm,  or  to  the  ear- 
ly times  of  Chriftianity  ;  it  is  clear  from  fcripture,  and 
the  nature  of  things,  that  others  of  them  are  expreffive 
of  principles,  which,  in  every  age,  are  of  the  firft  im- 
portance. Though  the  apoftle  fpeaks  of  leaving  them, 
yet  he  does  not  mean  that  we  (hould  give  them  up,  or 

treat 


46       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

treat  them  with  indifference,  but  go  on  unto  perfections 
as  a  builder  leaves  his  foundation  when  he  raifes  his 
walls,  and  advances  towards  the  completion  of  his 
building. 

Repentance  was  the  firft  leflbn  inculcated  by  John  the 
baptift,  and  Chrift,  and  his  apoftles  ;  and  that  not 
merely  on  profligate  finners,  but  on  fcribes  and  pharl- 
fees.  All  that  they  had  hitherto  learned,  required,  as 
it  were,  to  be  unlearned  ;  and  all  that  they  had  done, 
to  be  undone,  and  utterly  relinquished^ 

The  knowledge  which  carnal  men  acquire  of  divine 
things,  puffs  them  up  :  and  while  they  think  they  un- 
derftand  great  things,  they  know  nothing  as  they  ought 
to  know  it.  All  the  works  too,  which  have  been 
wrought  during  a  ftate  of  unregeneracy,  are  dead  works  : 
and,  inftead  of  being  in  any  degree  pleafing  to  God,  re- 
quire to  be  lamented  with  fhame  and  felf-abhorrence. 
Repentance  is  a  kind  of  felf-emptying  work  :  it  ia- 
cludes  a  renunciation,  not  only  of  thofe  things  for 
which  our  own  confeiences  at  the  time  condemned  us, 
but  of  what  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of  reckoning 
wifdom  and  righteoufnefs.  Hence  the  propriety  of  the 
order  in  which  the  fcriptures  place  it  with  regard  to 
faith,  Repent  and  believe  the  gofpd.  Mark  i.  15.  A£ts 
ii.  38.  xx.  21.  2  Tim.  ii.  25.  Renounce  your  own 
ways,  and  embrace  his  :  He  that  will  be  wife,  mufl  firfi 
become  a  fool  that  he  may  be  wife* 

Faith  towards  God>  or  believing  views  of  the  being 
and  glory  of  the  divine  charafter,  are  reckoned  alfo 
amongft  the  firft  principles  of  the  doctrines  of  Chrift. 
If  we  have  juft  ideas  of  this  very  important  fubjeft, 
we  have  the  key  to  the  whole  fyftem  of  gofpel  truth. 
He  who  beholds  the  glory  of  the  divine  holinefs,  will, 
in  that  glafs,  perceive  his  own  polluted  and  perifhing 
condition  \  and,  when  properly  imprefled  with  a  fenfe 

of 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  47 

of  thefe  things,  he  will,  naturally  embrace  the  do&rine 
of  a  Saviour,  yea,  and  of  a  great  one.  Salvation,  by 
mere  grace,  through  the  atonement  of  Jefus,  will  ap- 
pear the  very  object  of  his  foul's  defire.  And,  with 
thefe  principles  in  his  heart,  other  fcripture  doctrines 
will  appear  true,  interefting,  and  harmonious.  There 
are  but  few  erroneous  fentiments  in  the  Chrift:an  world, 
which  may  not  be  traced  to  a  fpirit  of  felf-ad miration, 
which  is  the  oppolite  of  repentance,  or  to  falfe  concep- 
tions of  the  divine  character. 

To  thefe  the  apoftle  adds,  the  refurreffion  of  the  dead, 

and  eternal  judgment ;  or  the  doftrine  of  a  future  ltate 
of  rewards  and  punifhments,  of  endlefs  duration, 
Thefe  are  principles,  which,  though  they  occupy  alrnoft 
an  ultimate  place  in  the  facred  iyitem,  yet,  as  every 
other  important  truth  refpecHng  man  proceeds  upon 
the  fuppoiition  of  their  truth,  they  may  properly  enough 
be  reckoned  among  the  firtt  principles  of  the  oracles  of 
God.  If  thefe  principles  were  given  up  to  the  infidel, 
the  fpirit  of  whofe  creed  amounts  to  this,  Let  us  eat 
and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die  j  or  if  the  latter  of  them 
were  given  up  to  the  univerfalift,  who,  though  he  ad- 
mits of  a  judgment  to  come,  yet  not  of  an  eternal  one; 
we  fhould  foon  find  the  whole  fabric  of  truth  fallen  to 
the  ground. 

2.  IV e  mujl  not  content  curf elves  with  blowing  what 
is  truths  but  m:ifl  be  acquainted  with  the  evidence  on  which 
it  re/Is. 

Chriftians  are  required  to  be  always  ready  to  give  a 
reafon  for  the  hope  that  is  in  them,  with  meeknefs  and 
fear  :  and  this  fuppofes  not  only  that  every  part  of  re- 
ligion admits  of  a  rational  defence,  but  that  it  is  necef- 
iary  for  Chriftians  to  ftirdy,  that  they  may  be  able  to 
defend  it  *,  or  at  lead,  to.  feel  the  ground  on  which  they 
reft  their  hope. 

The 


'4§       The  Importance  of  a  deep  {end  intimate 

The  truths  contained  in  the  oracles  of  God,  may  be 
diftinguifhed  into  two  kinds  :  thofe,  which  approve 
themfelves  to  our  ideas  of  wifdom  or  fitnefs ;  and  thofe, 
which  utterly  furpafs  our  underftanding,  but  which  re- 
quire to  be  believed  as  matters  of  pure  revelation.  The 
former  chiefly  refpeft  the  counfels  and  wrorks  of  God, 
which  are  exhibited  to  our  underftanding,  that  God  in 
them  may  be  made  manifeft  :  the  latter  more  commonly 
refpeft  the  being  and  inconceivable  glories  of  the  God- 
head, the  reality  of  which  we  are  concerned  to  know, 
but  on  their  mode  or  manner  are  forbidden  to  gaze. 

It  is  exceedingly  defirable  to  trace  the  wifdom  and 
harmony  of  evangelical  truth  :  it  is  a  fource  of  enjoy- 
ment fuperior,  perhaps,  to  any  thing  with  which  we 
are  acquainted.  All  the  works  of  God  are  honourable  and 
glorious,  and  fought  out  by  all  them  that  have  pleafure  therein; 
but  redemption  is  his  great  wrork,  wherein  appears  glory 
to  him/elf  in  the  highejl,  and  on  earth  peace  and  good  will  to 
men ;  here,  therefore,  mull  needs  be  the  higheft  enjoy- 
ment. Prior  to  the  revelation  of  redemption,  the  holy 
angels  (houted  for  joy  over  the  works  of  nature  ;  but 
having  witnefled  the  incarnation,  life,  death,  refurrec- 
tion,  and  afcenfion  of  Jefus,  they  defired  to  look  into  other 
things.  Nothing  tends  more  to  eftablifti  the  mind,  and 
to  intereft  the  heart  in  any  truth,  than  a  perception  that 
it  is  adapted  at  once  to  exprefs  the  glory  of  the  divine 
charafter,  and  to  meet  the  neceffities  of  guilty  creatures. 
The  mere  we  think  of  truth,  therefore,  in  this  way, 
the  more  we  {hall  be  rooted  and  grounded  in  it. 

But  what  reafoti  have  we  to  give  for  embracing  thofe 
do£t rines,  which  we  confider  as  above  reafon,  of  the 
fitnefs  of  which  we  consequently  pretend  to  have  no 
ideas.  We  anfwer,  they  are  contained  in  the  oracles 
of  God.  Nothing  is  more  reafonable  than  to  give  im- 
plicit credit  to  Him,  who  cannot  lie.  On  this  ground 
we  believe  that  there  are  three  who  bear  reccrd  in  heaven , 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  4g 

the  Father ',  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Gfoft  ;  and  that  fhefe 
three  are  one.  If  God  had  revealed  nothing  but  what 
would  have  come  within  the  limits  of  our  under  (land- 
ing, he  mud  have  told  us  little  or  nothing  about  him- 
felf,  and  nothing  at  all  of  his  felf-exiftence,  eternity, 
and  infinity  ;  for  we  have  no  pofitive  ideas  of  any  of 
thefe  things.  Yet  the  revelation  of  fuch  truths  may  be 
as  neceflary  as  thofe  which  approach  nearer  to  our  com- 
prehenfion.  The  latter  afford  food  for  knowledge ;  the 
former  reach  us  humility  and  furftifh  matter  for  faith. 

3.  We  tnuft  learn  truth  immediately  from  the  Grades 
of  God. 

Many  religious  people  appear  to  be  contented  with 
feeing  truth  in  the  light  in  which  fome  great  and  good 
author  has  placed  it :  but  if  ever  we  enter  into  the  gof- 
pel  to  purpofe,  it  mult  be  by  reading  the  word  of  God 
for  ourfeives,  and  by  praying  and  meditating  upon  its 
(acred  contents.  It  is  in  God's  light  that  we  mufifet  ligbf. 
By  converfing  with  the  facred  writers,  we  (hall  gradu- 
ally imbibe  their  fentiments,  and  be  infenfibiy  affimila- 
tsd  into  the  fame  fpirit. 

The  writings  of  great  and  good  men  are  not  to  be 
defpifed  any  more  than  their  preaching  ;  only  let  them 
not  be  treated  as  oracular.  The  beft  of  men,  in  this 
imperfeft  ftate,  view  tilings  partially  ;  and,  therefore, 
a'*e  in  danger  of  laying  an  improper  itrefs  upon  fomc 
parts  of  leripture  truth  to  the  negleft  of  other  parts,  of 
equal,  and  fome  times  of  fuperior,  importance-  Now 
where  this  is  the  cafe,  imitation  becomes  dangerous. 
It  is  rarely  known  but  that  an  original  fullers  in  the 
hands  of  a  copyift  :  if,  therefore,  the  former  be  imper- 
fect, what  may  be  expecled  of  the  latter  ?  We  all  come 
far  fliort  of  truth  and  righteoufnefs,  let  our  model  be 
ever  to  perfect  -r  but  if  this  be  imperfcer,,  we  (hall  pof- 
fefs  not  only  our  own  faults,  but  thofe  of  another. 

A  a  If, 


$o       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

If,  as  minifters,  we  go  about  to  depict  either  the 
character  of  a  bad  man,  or  of  a  good  man,  a  ftate  of 
unregeneracy,  or  a  work  of  grace  ;  and,  inftead  of 
drawing  from  real  life,  only  copy  from  fome  accounts 
which  we  have  read  or  heard,  of  thefe  matters,  we 
fhall  neither  convince  the  finner,  nor  touch  the  cafe  of 
the  believer :  all,  to  fay  the  leaft,  will  be  foreign  and 
uninterefting. 

If  we  adopt  the  principles  of  fallible  men,  without 
fearching  the  fcriptures  for  ourfelves,  and  inquiring 
whether  thofe  things  be  fo,  or  not,  they  will  not  avail 
us,  even  allowing  them  to  be  on  the  fide  of  truth,  as  if 
we  had  learned  them  from  a  higher  authority.  Our 
faith,  in  fuch  a  cafe,  will  ftand  in  the  wifdom  of  man, 
and  not  in  the  power  of  God.  There  is  a  favour  in 
truth  when  drawn  from  the  words  which  the  Holy 
Ghoft  teacheth,  which  is  loft,  or  at  leaft  diminifhed, 
if  it  pafs  under  the  conceptions  and  expreftions  of  men. 
Nor  will  it  avail  us  when  moft  needed  ;  for  he  who 
receives  his  creed  from  men,  may  deliver  it  -up  to  men 
again.  Truth  learned  only  at  fecond-hand  will  be  to 
us  what  Saul's  armour  was  to  David  \  we  fhall  be  at  a 
lofs  how  to  ufe  it  in  the  day  of  trial. 

4.  If  we  would  polTefs  a  great  and  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  divine  truth,  ive  tnuft  view  it  in  its 
various  connexions,  in  the  great  fyft&n  of  redemption* — 
Syftematical  divinity,  or  the  ftudying  of  truth  in  a 
fyftematicl  form,  has  been,  of  late  years,  much  decried. 
It  has  become  almoft  general  to  coniider  it  as  the 
mark  of  a  contracted  mind,  arid  the  grand  obftruftion 
to  free  inquiry.  If  we  imbibe  a  falfe  fyftem,  indeed, 
there  is  no  doubt  but  it  will  prove  injurious  *,  if  it  be 
true  in  part,  but  very  defective,  it  may  impede  our  prog- 
refs  in  divine  knowledge  ;  or  if,  in  order  to  retain  a 
fyftem,  we  torture  the  fcriptures  to  make  them  accord 
with  it.  we  fhall  pervert  the  truth  inftead  of  preferving 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  51 

it.  Thefe  are  things  which  make  againft  falfe,  defec- 
tive, and  anti-fcriptural  fy items  of  faith  *,  but  not  in 
the  leaft  againft  fyftem  rtfelf.  The  beft  criterion  of  a 
good  fyftem  is  its  concordance  with  the  holy  feriptures. 
That  view  of  things,  whether  we  have  any  of  us  fully 
attained  it  or  not,  which  admits  the  moft  natural  mean- 
ing to  be  put  upon  every  part  of  God's  wrord,  is  the 
right  fyftem  of  religious  truth.  And  he,  whofe  belief 
confifts  of  a  number  of  pofitions  arranged  in  fuch  a  con- 
nexion as  to  conftitute  a  confident  whole,  but  who,  from 
a  fenfe  of  his  imperfe&ion,  and  a  remembrance  of  pail 
errors,  holds  himfelf  ready  to  add  or  retrench  as  evi- 
dence (hall  require,  is  in  a  far  more  advantageous  track 
for  the  attainment  of  truth,  and  a  real  enlargement  of 
mind,  than  he  who  thinks  without  a  fyftem. 

To  be  without  fyftem,  is  nearly  the  fame  thing  as 
to  be  without  principle.  Whatever  principles  we  may 
have,  white  they  continue  in  this  diforganized  ftate, 
they  will  anfwer  but  little  purpofe.in  the  religious  life. 
Like  a  tumultuous  aflembly  in  the  day  of  battle,  they 
may  exift  ;  but  it  will  be  without  order,  energy,  or  end. 

No  man  could  decry  fyftematical  knowledge  in  any 
thing  but  religion,  without  fubjedling  himfelf  to  the 
ridicule  of  thinking  men :  a  philofopher,  for  inftance, 
who,  inftead  of  improving  fafts  which  had  fallen  under 
his  obfervation,  that  he  might  difcovcr  the  general  laws 
by  which  they  were  governed  ;  and,  inftead  of  tracing 
things  to  their  firft  principles,  and  purfuing  them  to 
their  juft  confequences,  fhould  inveigh  againft  all  gen- 
eral laws,  all  fyftem,  all  connexion  and  dependence,  and 
all  uniform  defign  in  the  variety  of  creation.  What 
fhould  we  fay  of  a  hujbandman^  who  refufed  to  arrange 
his  obfervations  under  the  refpeftive  branches  of  bufi- 
nefs  to  which  they  naturally  belonged  ;  who  had  no 
general  fcheme  or  plan  of  proceeding,  but  left  the  work 
of  every  .day  to  the  day  itfelf,  without  forethought,  con- 
trivance. 


4 


52        The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

trivance,  or  defign  ?  Or  what  account  fhould  we  make 
of  a  merchant ^  ox  trade/man^  who  fhould  exclude  fyftem- 
atical  knowledge  from  his  affairs  ?  He  is  conftantly  em- 
ployed in  buying  and  felling,  but  he  mud  have  no  gen- 
eral fyftem  whereby  to  conduct  either  the  one  or  the 
other ;  none  for  the  regulation  of  his  books  •,  none  for 
the  aflbrtment  of  his  articles  :  all  muft  be  free,  left  he 
fink  into  formality,  and  by  being  in  the  habit  of  doing 
things  in  order,  fhould  contract  a  narrownefs  of  mind  ! 

But  is  the  Bible  written  upon  fyftematical  principles  ? 
Dots  it  contain  a  fyftem  ?  Or  does  it  encourage  us  to 
form  one  ? — By  the  Bible  being  written  on  fyftematical 
principles,  I  fuppofe  is  meant  a  fyftematical  arrangement 
of  its  contents  :  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  con- 
trary of  this  is  true.  But  then  the  fame  might  be  faid 
of  the  book  of  nature.  Though  the  different  fpecies  of 
animals,  vegetables,  minerals,  &c.  are  capable  of  being 
arranged  under  their  xefye&'we  genera  >  and  fo  reduced  to 
a  fyftem  ;  yet  in  their  a&ual  pofition  in  creation,  they 
2ffume  no  fuch  appearance.  It  is  wifely  contrived,  both 
in  nature  and  fcripture,  that  the  objects  of  each  fhould 
be  fcattered  in  lovely  variety  :  but  amidft  all  this  variety, 
an  obfervant  eye  will  perceive  unity,  order,  arrangement, 
and  fulnefs  of  defign. 

God,  in  all  his  works,  has  proceeded  by  fyftem  :  there 
is  a  beautiful  connexion  and  harmony  in  every  thing 
which  he  has  wrought.  We  fometimes  fpeak  cf  a  fyf- 
tem of  nature,  a  fyftem  of  providence,  and  a  fyftem  of 
redemption  \  and,  as  fmaller  fyftems  are  often  included 
in  greater,  the  language  is  not  improper  :  in  reality, 
however,  they  are  all  but  one  fyftem  ;  one  grand  piece 
of  machinery;,  each  part  of  which  has  a  dependence  on 
tiic  other,  and  altogether  form  one  glorious  whole.  Now 
if  God  proceed  by'Vyftem,  it  may  be  expected  that  the 
fcripturesj  being  a  tranfeript  of  his  mind,  mould  contain 

a  fyftem  x 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  $$ 

a  fyftem  ;  and  if  we  would  ftudy  them  to  purpofe,  it 
muft  be  fo  as  to  difcover  what  that  fyftem  is. 

I  never  recollect  to  have  heard  any  objection  to  fyf- 
tematical  divinity  with  regard  to  praclice.  Let  a  Chris- 
tian, utterly  unacquainted  with  human  writings,  take 
his  Bible  with  a  view  to  learn  the  mind  of  God  upon 
any  given  fubjeft,  fuppofe  it  be  the  duty  of  parents ',  he 
will  naturally  collect  all  the  paflages  in  the  facred  wri- 
tings which  relate  to  that  fubj eft,  arrange  them  in  order, 
and  from  the  whole,  thus  taken  together,  regulate  his 
conduct.  For  this,  no  one  would  think  of  blaming  him: 
yet  this  will  be  actually  fyftematical. 

Let  him  do  the  fame  with  refpe£t  to  every  other  du- 
ty, and  he  will  be  in  pofleffion  of  a  body  or  fyftem  of 
prafiical  divinity.  And  why  fhould  he  flop  here  ; 
why  not  colle£t  the  mind  of  God  from  the  whole  of 
fcripture  taken  together,  upon  things  to  be  believed^ 
as  well  as  things  to  be  performed  ?  - 

If  the  apoftles  had  not  confidered  divine  truth  in  a 
fyftematical  form,  how  came  the  writer  of  this  epiftle  to 
fpeak  of  the  firf  principles  cf  the  oracles  of  God?  This  lan- 
guage fuppofes,  as  before  obferved,  a  fcheme  or  fyftem 
of  faith  :  and  if  fuch  a  form  of  confidering  truth  were 
disadvantageous  to  Chriftians,  how  came  he  to  cenfure 
the  Hebrews  for  their  want  of  progrefs  in  it  ?  In  the 
epiftle  to  the  Remans,  chap.  xii.  6,  we  read  of  the  pro- 
portion or  analogy  of  faith,  which  fuppofes  that  the  gof- 
pel  is  one  proportionate  or  confident  whole. 

Could  a  fyftem  of  divinity  be  written,  in  which  e 
facred  truth  or  duty  fhould  have  a  place  affigned  it,  anil 
fuch  a  place,  both  as  to  order  and  importance,  as  prop- 
erly belonged  to  it,  not  invading  the  province  of 
truths  or  duties,  but,  on  the  contrary,  fubfoving  them, 
^nd  itfelf  appearing  to  the  greateft  advantage  amongft 
Av*:-z;.  "       them  : 


54       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

them  ;  fuch  a  performance  would  anfwer  to  what  the 
apoftle  means  by  the  proportion  of  faith.  But  can  we 
expe£t  a  work  anfwering  to  this  description  from  an 
uninfpired  pen  ? — Perhaps  net  :  the  materials  for  fuch 
a  model,  however,  exift  in  the  holy  fcriptures,  and 
though  we  cannot  colled!  and  arrange  them  to  perfec- 
tion, let  us,  as  in  all  other  things,  prefs  towards  the  mari. 

Let  that  fyftem  of  religion,  which  we  embrace,  be 
but,  in  the  main,  the  right  one,  and  fo  far  from  con- 
tracting the  mind,  it  is  eafy  to  perceive  that  it  will 
abundantly  enlarge  it.  For  example,  let  the  fa£l  of 
Jofeph's  being  fold  into  Egypt  be  viewed  without  its 
connexion  with  God's  defigns,  and  it  will  appear  a  mel- 
ancholy inftance  of  human  depravity  ;  we  {hall  fee 
nothing  very  remarkable  in  it ;  and  it  will  feem  calcu- 
lated only  to  afford  a  difgufting  pidture  of  family  jeal- 
oufies  and  intrigues,  enough  to  break  the  heart  of  an 
aged  parent.  But  let  the  fame  fact  be  viewed  fyftem- 
a-tically,  as  a  link  in  a  chain,  or  as  a  part  of  a  whole, 
and  it  will  affume  a  very  different  appearance.  Thus 
viewed,  it  is  an  event  pregnant  with  glory.  He  mult 
needs  go  down  into  Egypt  that  much  people  might  be 
preferved  alive  ;  that  Jacob's  family  might  follow  him  ; 
that  they  might  there  be  preferved,  for  a  feafon,  till, 
in  due  time,  having  become  a  great  nation,  they  fhould 
be  led  forth  with  a  high  hand ;  that  they  might  be 
placed  in  Canaan,  and  might  fet  up  the  worfhip  of  the 
true  God  ;  that  the  Meihah  might  be  born  among 
them  ;  and  that  his  kingdom  might  be  extended  over 
the  whole  earth.  Without  a  fyftem,  the  patriarch  re- 
flected) All  theft  things  are  againjt  me:  but  with  a  fyf- 
tem, or  rather  with  only  the  difcovery  of  a  very  fmall 
part  of  it,  he  exclaimed,  It  is  enough  :  Jofepb,  my  fin  %  is 
yet  alive  :   I  will  go  down,  and  fee  him  before  I  die. 

In  addition  to  this  event  in  providence,  let  us  offer 
ar  examples  on  matters  of  do&rine. 

"Would 


Kft  of  Divine  Jruti 

Would  you  contemplate  the  great  evil  of  fu^  you  muft 
view  it  in  ifrs  connexions,  tendencies,  and  confequen-- 
CCS-  For  a  poor  finite  creature,  whofe  life  is  but  a  va- 
pour, to  gratify  a  vicious  inclination,  may  appear  a  tri- 
fle :  but  when  its  tendencies  and  mifchievous  confe- 
quences  are  taken  into  the  account,  it  wears  a  different 
afpect.  Jeroboam  fvd  in  his  heart,.  If  this  people  go  up 
to  facrifice  at  Jerufalem,  then. fall  the  kingdom  return  un- 
to David.  Hence  he  fet  up  idolatry  ;  and  hence  the 
nation  was  corrupted  more  and  more,  till  at  length  it 
was  given  up  to  utter  deftruction,  Conndering.our- 
felves  as  links  in  the  great  chain  of  moral  government* 
every  tranfgreflion  is  of  yaft  importance,  becaufs  it  af- 
fects the  whole  fyftem.  If  the  government  of  God  be 
once  violated,  an  example  is  fet,  which,  if  followed, 
would  ruin  the  univerie. 

Farther,  if  we  contemplate  the  death  of  Chrifl  with- 
out any  relation  to  fyftem,  we  (hall  only  fee  a  fuffering 
perfon  at  Jerufalem,  and  feel  that  pity  and  difguft 
which  is  ordinarily  excited  by  injuflice  and  cruelty, 
But  let  us  view  it  as  connected  with  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  God  y  as  a  glorious  expedient  to  fecure  its 
honours  ;  a  propitiation  wherein  God  declared  his  right  couf- 
7:efs  for  the  rem  if!  on  of  fins,  Rom.  iii.  25,  and  we  (hall 
have  a  new  fet  of  feelings.  While  the  apoflles  con- 
tinued to  view  this  event  unconnectedly,  their  minds 
were  contracted,,  and  forrow  filled  their  hearts  ;  but 
when  their  eyes  were  opened  to  fee  it  in  its  connex- 
ions and  confequences,  their  forrow  was  turned  into 
joy.  Thole  very  perfons  who,  but  a  few  weeks  be- 
fore, could  not  bear  to  think  of  their  Lord's  departure, 
afier  they  had  witnefled  his  afcenfion  to  glory,  return- 
ed to  Jerufalem  with  great  joy,  and  continued  daily  in  the 
temple,  praf nig  and  biffing  God.     Luke  xxiv.  52,  53. 

Once  more,  if  we  view  the  doctrine  of  eleclion  as  un- 
connected with  other  things,  it  may  appear  to  us  to  be 

a  kind 


50       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

a  kind  of  fondnefs  without  reafon  or  wifdom.  A 
charge  of  caprice  would  hereby  he  brought  againft  the 
Almighty  ",  and  profeflbrs,  like  the  carnal  Jews,  on  ac- 
count of  the  diftinguifhing  favours  conferred  on  their 
nation,  would  be  foftered  in  felt-conceit.  But  if  it  be 
confidered  in  connexion  with  the  great  fyftem  of  relig- 
ious truth,  it  will  appear  in  a  very  different  light.  It 
will  reprefent  the  Divine  Being  in  his  true  character; 
not  as  acting  without  defign,  and  fubjecling  himfelf  to 
endlefs  difappointments  ;  but  as  accomplifhing  all  his 
works  in  purfuance  of  an  eternal  purpcfe.  And  as  fal- 
vation,  from  firft  to  laft,  is  of  mere  grace,  and  every 
fon  and  daughter  of  Adam  is  abfolutely  at  the  divine 
difcretion,  it  tends  powerfully  to  imprefs  this  idea  both 
upon  faints  and  fmners.  While  it  leads  the  former  to 
acknowledge,  that  by  the  grace  of  God  they  are  what 
they  are,  it  teaches  the  latter  to  relinquifh  their  vain 
hopes,  and  to  fall  into  the  arms  of  fcvereign  mercy. 

As  the  righteoufnefs  of  .God's  cleft  is  not  the  ground 
of  their  election,  fo  neither  is  their  felicity  its  ultimate 
end.  God  righteoufly  hides  the  things  of  the  gofpel 
from  the  wife  and  prudent,  and  reveals  them  unto 
babes,  becaufeyi  it  fee met h  good  in  his  fight  ;  it  tends 
moll  to  difplay  the  glory  of  his  character,  and  to  pro- 
mote the  general  good  of  creation.  Thefe  things,  if 
properly  confidered, -are  of  a  humbling  tendency. 

If  the  Jews  had  confidered  that  they  were  not  cno- 
fen,  or  put  in  poflefTion  of  the  good  fandy  for  their  right- 
eoufnefs)  or  for  the  uprightnefs  of  their  hearts  ;  and  that 
though  it  was  an  inftaiice  of  great  love  to  them,  yet  it 
was  not  ultimately  for  their  fake,  or  to  accomplifn  their 
liappinefs,  but  that  God  might  fulfil  his  covenant  with 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacobs  Beut.  ix.  5,  in  whom,  and  in 
whofe  feed  all  nations  of  the  earth  were  to  be  lleffed  ;  and 
if  they  had  confidered  the  falvation  of  the  world  as  the 
end  of  their  national  exiffence,  and  themfelves  as  God's 


Knovjicdge  of  Divine  Truth.  $f 

uhnejflh)  till  the  times  of  reformation  ;  inftead  of  val- 
uing themfelves,  and  defpiiing  other  nations,  they 
would  have  reckoned  themfelves  their  fervants  for  Jthd- 
V ah* S  fake* 

In  (hort,  by  confidering  principles  in  their- various 
connexions,  far  greater  advances  will  be,  made  in  divine 

knowledge  than  by  any  other  means,     The  difcovery  of  one 
important  truth  will  lead  en  to  a  hundred  mere.     Let 
a  Chriflian  but  realize,  for  example,  the  glory  cfthe  Di- 
vine Character,  as  the  moral  Governor  of,  the  world; 
and  he  will,  at  once,  perceive  the  equity  and  gooduefs 
of  the  moral  law,  which  requires  us  to  love  him  with 
all  the  heart.     In  this  -glafs  he.  will  fee  his  own  deprav- 
ity :  and  poiTeffed  of  thefe  views,  the  grace  of  the  gof* 
pel  wilt  appear  to  him  to  be  grace  indeed.     Every  blend- 
ing it  contains  will'  be  endearing  -y  and.  the  medium 
through  which  all  is  conveyed,  Superlatively  precious. 
A  train,  of  thought  like  this  has  frequently  proved  more, 
interefting  than  the  labours  of  thole,  who,  having  dii- 
covered  a  vein  of  Giver  or  gold,  dig  deeply  Into  the  bow- - 
els.  of  the  enriching  mine,. 

Having  confidered  a  few  of  the  means  neceffary  for 
the  attainment  of  a  deep  and  intimate  knowledge  ot 
truth  :  I  fhali 

II.  Attempt  to  eftahlifii  the  imeohtikce  offuch  a 
incwu/edgf*. 

As  the  powers  of  created  beings  are  limited,  r.nd  rio  . 
one  can  expect  to  underftand  every  thing,  it  is  the  pro- 
vince of  wifdom  to  fefe£t  thofe  kinds  of  knowledge  as 
the  objects  of  our  purl uit,  which  are  mod  valuable,  and 
of  the  greateft  utility.  There  are  fome  depths,  of. 
which  it  is  our  honour  and  felicity  to  be  ignorant ; 
Rev.  ii.  24  ;  and  even  in  things  which  are  lawful,  we 
may,  in  nurnberlefs  instances,  very  well  be  excufed,  if* 

not 


58       The  Importance  of  &;4eep  and  intimate 

not  in  wholly  negle&ing,  yet  in  polTeffing  only  a  general 
acquaintance  with  them.  But  divine  truth  requires 
not  only  to  be  known,  but  well  known  :  it  is  not  only 
neceffary  that  we  have  fentiments,  and  right  fenti- 
ments, but  that  we  enter  deeply  into  them.  Every 
thing  pertaining  to  God  is  great,  and  requires  all  our 
powers.  I»i  whatever  we  indulge  indifference,  there 
is  no  room  for  it  here  :  God  requires  not  only  all  our 
hearty  but  all  our  nund  antljlrength. 

The  importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  divine  truth,  will  more  particularly  appear 
from  the  following  confederations  : 

I.  A  neglecl  of  God's  word  is  reprefented  as  a- 
heinous  Jin  :■  but  we  fhall  not  be  able  to  efcape  this  fin, 
If  we  cctrtent  ourfelres  with  a  fuperfkral  acquaintance 
with  truth.  Revelation,  in  every  flage,  demands  our 
ferious  attention  \  but  the  revelation  of  eternal  life, 
through  Jefus  Chiift,  requires  attention  in  the  higheft 
degree.  This  is  that  great  falvahony  which  we  are 
charged  not  to  neglett.  Heb.  ii.  3.  The  dignity  of  its 
author,  its  fublime  and  interesting  nature,  with  the  ac- 
cumulated evidence,  which  God  hath  condescended  to 
afford  us  of  its  divine  original,  combine  to  require  of 
us  the  moft  careful  and  cordial  examination  into  its 
contents.  A  negleft  of  this  is  either  total  or  partial  : 
the  former  would  denominate  us  unbelievers,  and  ex- 
pofe  us  to  utter  dcitruftion  :  the  latter,  though  it  may 
exift  in  fin cere  Chrifdans,  is  neverthelefs  a  fin,  and  a 
fin  more  than  a  little  offenfive  to  the  God  of  truth. 

To  be  contented  with  a  fuperficial  acquaintance 
with  divine  things,  implies  difrefpeci  to  Him  who  has 
revealed  them.  '■  A  letter  from  a  diflant  friend,  to  whom 
we  are  cordially  attached,  is  viewed  and  reviewed,  and 
every  fentence  of  it  carefully  infpedted,  and  on  many 
occasions  committed  to  memory.     Why  fhculd  no* 

the 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  59 

the  word  of  God  be  productive  of  the  fame  effects  ? 
Indeed  it  is  :  for  in  proportion  as  we  love  God,  his 
word  will  dwell  richly  in  us.  It  will  be  our  bofom 
companion,  to  which  we  (hall  have  recourfe  on  every 
occafion.;  efpecially  in  feafons  of  leifure,  when  the 
mind,  like  a  fpring  from  which  a  preflure  is  removed, 
rifes  to  its  natural  pofition.  Hence  the  following  lan- 
guage, Thou  Jhalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  whh  all  thine 
hearty  and  with  all  thy  foul,  and  with  all  thy  might ;  and 
thefe  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day,  Jha/l  be  in 
thine  hearty  and  thou  Jhalt  teach  them  diligently  to  thy  chil- 
dren, and  Jhalt  talk  of  them  when  thoufittejl  in  thine  houfe> 
and  when  thou  walkeji  by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liejl 
down,  and  when  thou  rifjl  up.  Deut.  vi.  5,  6,  7. 

To  be  contented  with  a  fuperficial  acquaintance 
with  divine  things,  implies  alfo  a  want  of  ajfedion  to 
the  things  them/elves.  A  will,  or  teftament,  in  which 
we  were  deeply  interefted,  would  be  procured  with 
eagernefs,  and  read  with  avidity  •,  and  if  any  difficulty 
remained  as  to  the  meaning  of  a  particular  paflage, 
we  (hould  have  no  reft  till  by  fome  means  or  other  we 
had  obtained  a  folution  of.  it.  I  need  not  apply  this 
remark.  Nothing  is  more  evident,  than  that  what- 
ever is  uppermoft  in  our  affections,  .will  form  the 
grand  current  of  our  thoughts.  And  where  our 
thoughts  are  directed  to  a  fubject  with  intenfenefs 
and  perfeverance,  it  will  become  familiar  to  us  ;  and 
unlefs  it  be  owing  to  the  want  of  natural  capacity,  or 
other  necsflary  means,  we  fhali,  of  courfe,  enter  deep- 
ly into  it. 

I  have  been  much  (truck  with  the  ardent  affection 
which  David  discovered  to  the  holy  fcriptures,  and 
every  part  of  their  facred  contents.  The  whole  cxix. 
Pfalm  is  a  continued  encomium  upon  them.  There 
we  have  fuch  language  as  the  following  :  .  0,  how  I 
love  thy  law.      My  foul  breaketh  for  the  longing  that  it 

hath 


Do       The  Importance  cf  a  deep  and  intimate 

hath  unto  thy  judgments  at  all  times,  Thy  ftatutes  have 
been  my  Jong  in  the  hcufe  cf  my  pilgrimage.  The  law  of 
thy  mouth  is  better  to  me  than  thoufands  of  gold  and  fiver. 
Now,  all  the  fcriptures  which  were  then  extant, 
amounted  to  little  more  than  the  writings  cf  Mofes. 
What  additions  have  we  fince  enjoyed  ! — Befides  the 
Book  of  Pfalms,  arid  the  Prophecies  which  followed, 
we  have -the  whole  New  Teftament— full  of  grace  and 

b — wherein  the  invkible  God  hath,  as  it  were, 
rendered  hiniulf  vifible. — Him,  whom  no  man  hath  fc en 

:;  timcy  the  <mfy  begotten  Son,  who  dwelt  in  his  bojlm, 
hath' declared.  John  i.  17,  1 8. — How  is  it  that  fuch  a 
price  ihould  be  in  our  hands  to  get  wifdam,  and  yet 
that  we -fhould  Live  fc  little  heart  for  it. 

2.  The  word  of  God  isreprefented  as  a  mean  of 
fanclif  ration  :  but  no  effect  of  this  kind  can  be  pro- 
duced beyond  the  degree  in  which  we  imbibe  it.  One 
great  objecl  of  our  Lord's  interceflion  with  the  Father 
.on  our  behaJf was,  that  we  might  be  fanfrifed  through 
truthy  even  by  his  word,  which  is  truth.  The  £oi- 
pel  is  continually  held  up,  net  only  as  c  dechine  ac- 
1  or  din?  tocgodlinefsf  but  as  having  a  powerful  influence 
in  producing  it.  It  teacheth  us  that%  denying  ungodlinefs 
end  worldly  hfs,  we  fhould  live  foberly%  rightecufy,  and 
iti  this  prcft'ii  world.  It  luorketh  effectually  in  thofc 
who  believe.  It  was  by  the  dc&rine  of  the  Crofs  that 
the  world  became  crucified  to  the  Apoftle,  and  he 
unto  the  world  !  So  univerial  and  fo  mail  if  eft  were  the 
eifecls  of  divine  truth  upon  the  practice  of  the  primi- 
tive Chtiftians,  that  the  faered  writers  could  appeal. 
to  fa <5i  on  their  behalf,  that  they,  and  they  only  were 
fuccefsful  combatants  agatnft  the  world's  temptations  : 
- — Who  is  he  that  overcount!:  the  world >  but  he  that  hex 
lieveih  that  Jefus  is  the  Son  of  Cod?  John  xvii.  17. 
Tit.  ii.  1  2.    x  ThelT.  ii.  13.    Gal.  vi.  14.    1  John  v.  4,  5. 

Now,  in  order  that  the  gofpel  may  be  productive 

of 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  61 

ef  thefe  effects,  it  is  neceflary  that  it  be  underftood. 
— Without  this,  how  fhould  it  intereit  or  affect  the 
heart  ?  We  muft  believe  the  truth,  ere  it  will  work  ef- 
fectually :  we  muft  know  it,  or  it  will  not  make  us  free. 
That  we  may  ferve  God  acceptably,  and  with  godly 
fear,  we  muft  have  grace  ;  and  grace  is  multiplied 
through  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  of  Jefus  our  Lord. 

Knowledge  and  affection  have  a  mutual  influence 
on  each  other.  That  the  lov€  of  truth  will  prompt  us 
to  labour  after  a  more  perfect  acquaintance  with  its  con- 
tents, has  been  already  obferved  :  and  that  fuch  an 
acquaintance  will  promote  an  increafing  love  of  truth 
in  return,  is  equally  evident.  We  cannot  love  an  un- 
known golpel  any  more  than  an  unknown  God.  Af- 
fection is  fed  by  knowledge,  being  thereby  furnifhed 
with  grounds  or  reafons  for  its  operations.  By  the  ex- 
panfion  of  the  mind,  the  heart  is  fupplied  with  objects 
which  fill  it  with  delight.  It  is  thus  that  it  becomes 
enlarged,  and  that  we  feel  ourfelves  fweetly  induced  to 
run  in  the  nvay  of  the  divine  commandments. 

How  was  it  that  the  apoftle  became  dead  to  the 
world,  by  the  crofs  of  Chrift  ?  I  fuppofe  on  much  the 
fame  principle,  that  the  light  of  the  ftars  is  eclipfed 
by  that  of  the  fun  ;  or  that  a  man  having  drunk  old 
wine,  ceafes  to  defire  new,  for  he  faith,  the  old  is  bet- 
ter. It  is  by  drinking  deeply  into  religion,  that  we 
become  difaffe&ed  to  carnal  objects. 

3.  The  word  of  God  is  reprefented  as  the  great 
fource  of  Chrijhan  enjoyment  :  but  no  effect  of  this  kind 
can  be  produced  any  farther  than  we  imbibe  the  truth. 
The  fame  way  in  which  divine  truth  operates  as  a  me- 
dium of  fanctification,  it  becomes  a  fource  of  enjoy- 
ment ;  namely,  by  interefting  and  affecting  the  heart. 
That  which,  by  its  fuperior  luftre,  eclipfes  the  pleafures 
of  fenfe,  and  crucifies  us  to  the  world,  at  the  fame  time 
B  b  kindles 


6 2       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

kindles  a  joy  in  the  heart,  which  is  unfpeakable  and  full, 
of  glory.     The  habitual  joy,  which  was  pofleffed  by  the 
Apoftles  and  primitive  ChriftJans,  chic  fly  arofefrom  a 
knowledge  and  belief  of  the  gofpel.      It  was  the  exceU 
lency  of  the  knowledge  of  Chrijl  Jeftu  his  Lord,  that  indu- 
ced  the   Apoftle  to  count  all  things  but  Ljj  and  dung. 
Phil.  iii.  8.      Thofe  in  whom  the  word  of  Chrijl  dwelt 
richly,  in  all  wijdom,  were  fuppofed  to  be  fo  enlivened 
by  it,  that  it  became  natural  to  them  to  teach  and  ad- 
monfh  one  another  in  pfalms  and  hymns,  and fpiritual Jongs, 
finging  with  grace  in  their  hearts  to  the  Lord.   Col.  iii. 
x6.     The  object,  for  which  the  apoftle  lowed  his  knees 
io  the  Father  of  glory,  in  behalf  of  the  Ephefians,  was, 
that  by  means  of  a  comprehenfve knowledge  of  the  breadth, 
and  length,  and  depth,  and  height  of  the  redeeming  love  of 
Chrifl,  they  might  be  filled  with  all  the  Julnejs  of  God. 
Ephef.  iii.  18,  19.     The  wells  of  falvation  are  deep  ^ 
-and  he  that  lacketh  knowledge  is  as  one  that  hath 
nothing  to  draw  with. 

The  prejudice  of  many  Chriftians  againfl  doctrinal 
preaching,  as  being,  in  their  efteem,  dry  and  uninter- 
f/ling ;  and  the  preference  which  is  given  to  that  which 
is  more  defcriptive  of  their  feelings,  and  which  is  there- 
fore termed  experimental,  is  worthy  of  attention.  If 
the  doftrine  which  we  preach  be  not  the  unadulter- 
ated gofpel  of  Chrift,  it  will  indeed  be  dry  ;  or,  if  in- 
ftead  of  entering  into  the  fpirit  of  truth,  we  are  em- 
ployed in  a  fruitlefs  difcuffion  of  terms,  or  things  on 
which  the  fcriptures  forbear  to  decide,  it  muft  needs 
be  uninterefting,  and  even  difgufting  to  a  holy  mind. 
But  if  the  pure  gofpel  of  Jefus,  well  underftood  by  the 
preacher,  and  communicated  from  the  fulnefs  of  his 
heart,  do  not  intereft  us,  there  muft  be  fome  lamenta- 
ble diforder  in  the  ftate  of  our  minds.  If  the  manna 
that  comes  down  from  heaven  be  loathed,  it  is  a  fign 
that  things  are  not  with  us  as  they  ought  to  be.  The 
dottrine  of  Mofes,  and  furely  much  more  that  of  Je- 

4  fus, 


Knowledge  cf  Divine  Truth.  6$ 

{us,  dropped  as  the  rain,  and  dj/l Hied  as  ike  dew  upon  the 
tender  herb. 

Christian  experience  (or  what  is  generally  underftood 
by  that  term,  the  painful  and  pleafurable  feelings  of 
good  men)  will  be  found,  if  genuine,  to  arife  from  the 
influence  of  truth  upon  the  mind.  If  we  be  ftrar i| 
to  the  glory  of  God's  moral  character,  and  the  great 
evil  of  (in,  we  fhall  be  (Irangers  to  all  the  feeling- 
godly  forrdw  on  account  of  it.  And  what  ground  w 
fhere  (otjof  and  peace]  but  in  believing  ?  Take- away  the 
Deity  arid  atonement  of  Chrift,  and  they  are  annihilat- 
ed. To  this  may  be  added,  give  up  the  doctrines  of 
the  refurrettion  and  a  future  life,  and  what  becomes  of 
hope  ?  From  thefe  inftances,  out  of  many  others,  you 
will  eafily  perceive,  that  doctrinal  and  experimental 
preaching  are  not  fo  remote  from  each  other  as  fome 
perfons  have  imagined  ->  and  that  to  extol  the  latter  at 
the  expenfe  of  the  former,  is  to  a£l  like  him  who  withes 
the  fountain  to  be  destroyed  becaufe  he  prefers  die 
ftream, 

4.  It  is  a  great  objecl  in  the  Chrmian  life,  accord- 
ing to  our  capacities  and  opportunities,  to  diftufe  the 
t  cf  the  gofpel  around  us  :  but  we  cannot  commu- 
nicate any  thing  beyond  the  degree  in  which  we  pof- 
fefs  it.  The  communication  of  gofpel  truth  is  not 
confined  to  minifters.  Every  Chriftian  moves  in  a 
fphere  of  fome  extent  ;  and  is  expected  fo  to  occupy 
it,  as  to  embrace  every  occafion  which  may  ofFer  to 
make  known  the  way  of  eternal  life  to  thofe  about  him. 
The  primitive  churches  were  fchools  of  heavenly  in- 
ftru&ion,  as  the  words  of  the  text,  to  go  no  farther, 
plainly  intimate  ;  and  the  apcltle  reproves  fome  of 
their  members  for  having  made  no  greater  proficiency. 
Though  it  would  be  vain  for  every  one  to  afpire  at  be- 
ing a  public  teacher  of  Christianity,  yet,  as  hath  been 
already  obferved,  everv  one  fhould  be  concerned  that 

he 


6 4       The  Importance  &f  a  deep  and  Intimate 

he  may  be  able  to  give  a  reafonfor  the  hope  thai  is  in  himy 
and  to  teach  the  good  and  the  right  way  to  thole  with 
whom  he  is  immediately  conne£led.  The  duties  of  a 
parent,  and  a  mafter,  include  in  them  the  inftru&ion 
of  thofe  who  are  committed  to  their  care.  Many  op- 
portunities arife,  in  which  Chriftians  might  communi- 
cate the  knowledge  of  Chrift  to  their  neighbours  ;  thofe 
in  a  ftate  of  fervitude  to  their  fellow-iervants  \  and, 
provided  it  were  done  on  proper  occafions,  and,  accord- 
ing to  the  apoftolic  rule,  in  meeknefs  and  fear,  perfons 
in  inferior  ftations  might  fuggeft  a  ufeful  hint  even  to 
their  fuperiors. 

When  the  family  of  Eiimelech  went  to  fojourn  in 
b,  they  carried  their  religion  with  them  -7  fo  re- 
commended the  God  of  Ifrael  to  thofe  with  whom  they 
formed  connexions,  that  one  of  them  was  induced  tt> 
e  her  country,  her  kindred,  and  her  gods,  and  to 
put  her  truft  under  the  fhadow  of  his  wings.  Ruth  i. 
And  even  a  little  maid  of  the  land  of  Ifrael,  who  had 
been  carried  captive  into  Syria,  by  fpeaking  to  her  mif- 
trefs,  on  a  favourable  opportunity,  was  inftrumental  in 
her  matter's  being  healed  of  his  leprofy,  and  in  his  be- 
ing brought  to  acknowledge  and  adore  the  true  God. 
2  Kings  v.  Such  cafes  are  recorded  to  encourage  us 
to  communicate  the  good  knowledge  of  God  on  all 
proper  occafions  :  but,  in  order  to  do  this,  we  muft 
iirft  poflefs  it,  and  that  in  a  greater  degree  than  merely 
to  denominate  us  Chriftians* 

Perhaps  one  of  the  moft  favourable  opportunities  for 
Chriftians  to  fuggeft  important  truth  to  their  neighbours 
and  connexions,  is  when  any  of  them  are  under  a 
threatening  affliction.  To  v'ifit  them  at  fuch  a  time 
would  be  kindly  taken  :  even  the  word  of  characters 
are  commonly  acceffible  when  they  apprehend  eterrnty 
"to  be  drawing  nigh.  You  may  now  freely  cenverfe 
and  pray  with  them  ;  ajad  if  your  circumftances  will 

iulmir, 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  65 

ttomit,  and  theirs  require  it,  a  communication  of  your 
worldly  fubftance  would  convince  them  of  your  good 
will,  give  weight  to  your  inftru6lions,  and  correfpond 
with  the  conduct  of  Him,  who  went  about  doing  good 
to  the  bodies  and  fouls  of  men.  But  fuch  a  practice 
requires  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  divine  truth. 
It  is  an  important  matter  to  converfe  with  men,  who 
are  juft  on  the  borders  of  an  eternal  world  :  it  requires 
not  only  tendernefs,  faithfulnefs,  and  prudence  ;  but 
an  ability  to  expofe  thofe  falfe  refuges,  and  dete£l 
thofe  delufive  hopes,  to  which,  at  fuch  feafons,  they 
are  generally  difpofed  to  fly  ;  and  to  direct  them  to 
the  only  name  under  heaven ,  given  among!}  meriy  whereby 
they  mujl  be  favecl* 

5.  In  time  of  apoftacy  from  the  truth,  Chriftians 
are  exhorted  to  be  (ledfaft  :  2  Pet.  iii.  17  ;  but  a  fted- 
fail  adherence  to  truth,  requires  that  we  be  rooted  and 
grounded  in  it.  The  wifdom  of  God  fees  meet,  in  or- 
der to  prove  mankind,  and  eipecialiy  his  prorefling 
people,  to  fuffer  other  gofpels,  befides  the  true  one,  to 
obtain  footing  amongft  us.  I  am  aware  that  it  has  be- 
come cuflomary,  in  thefe  times,  to  make  a  jeft  oiherefy^ 
and  to  deride,  as  illiberal,  narrow-minded  bigots,  "all 
thofe  who  corriidcr  any  religious  fentiments  as  endan- 
gering the  falvation  of  men.  But  I  hepe  we  (hall  not, 
on  this  account,  be  deterred  from  fuch  an  attachment: 
to  truth  as  the  fcriptures  encourage.  It  is  granted 
that^he  term  berrfy  has  been  wretchedly  abuied  ;   and 

that 

*  Of  the  numerous  liberal  inftitutiens  which,  at  this  time,  adorn  .he. 
metropolis,  none  appear  to  me  more  defervine  ofeucouragejiient  rhan 
thofe  ibcieties  which  have  Iatefy  been  f«  rmed  for  *ifit  -     a  -  j 

erwr/ing  with  the  vffl'ffled  fot.  If  they  continue  to  be  eondu&ed 
with  propriety  ;  if,  in  particular,  fuitabfe  perfons  are  fele&ed  as  viiit- 
ors  I  hope  they  will  prove  a  bleffing  of  magnitude.  May  God  A  I- 
ntighty  blefs  thofe  young  people  who  are  thus  employed,  and  may  they 
Bever  want  iupport  from  a  benevolent  public 

Bb  % 


66       The  Import  arm  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

that  it  becomes  Chriftians  to  beware  of  applying  it  to 
every  departure  from  even  truth  itfelf :  yet  there  is  fuch 
a  thing  in  being.  There  were  herefies  in  the  apoftles' 
times  y  and  it  was  predicted  that  there  fhould,  in  after 
times,  be  perfons  who  would  bring  in  even  damnable 
herefies.  2  Pet.  ii.  i.  Let  no  one  be  ftartled  at  the  ufe 
cf  thefe  terms  :  I  did  not  coin  them  ;  and  am  not  ac- 
countable for  them  :  but  feeing  they  occupy  a  place  in 
the  holy  fcriptures,  I  think  myfelf  concerned  to  under- 
ftand  them.  Whatever  difficulty  there  may  be  in  afcer- 
taining  their  precife  object,  they  undoubtedly  teach  us 
that  men's  fouls  may  be  destroyed  by  mental,  as  well  as 
by  fenfual,  lufts  ;  even  the  fouls  of  profeffing  Chriftians  ; 
for  the  words  are  net  intended  to  defcribe  open  infidels, 
but  fuch  as  fhould  bear  the  Chriftian  name,  yea,  and 
who  fhould  be  teachers  of  Chriitianity. 

The  circulation  of  doctrines  pieafing  to  corrupt  na- 
ture will  prove  men  to  be  what  they  are.  They  are 
the  fan  in  Chrift's  hand,  by  which  he  will  thoroughly 
purge  his  floor.  That  light-minded  profeffors  of  relig- 
ion fhould  be  carried  away  with  them,  is  no  more  a 
matter  of  furprife  than  that  the  chaff  fhould  be  carried 
away  by  the  wind  :  but  how  is  it  that  thofe,  of  whom 
we  would  hope  better  things,  are  often  fliaken  ? 

If  a  minifter,  in  almoft  any  of  our  congregations, 
fhould  relinquilh  truth,  and  fall  into  the  groilefi  errors  ; 
unlefs  he  has  fo  conducted  himfelf  as  to  have  gained 
little  or  no  efteem  amongft  the  people,  he  is  feldom 
known  to  go  off  alone  :  fometimes  half  a  congregation, 
and  fometimes  more,  have  been  known  to  follow  him, 
or  at  leaft  to  be  greatly  unhinged  for  a  considerable 
time.  If  a  writer  ft  art  up  in  aim  oft  any  connexion, 
let  his  performance  be  ever  fo  weak  or  extravagant  ; 
yet,  if  he  poflefs  but  a  fufficient  quantity  of  overbear- 
ing affurance,  he  will  have  his  admirers ;  and  fome 
fei'ious  people  will  b.e  in  danger  of  being  turned  afide. 

How 


K>::\  6y 

fe  things  to  be  accounted  for?  I  concekre 

-.,  that  Chriftians  content  them- 

felves  with  a  fuperilcial  knowledge  of  divine  things. 

Great,  numb.  i  a  diflike  to  controverfy,  will 

and  the  difference  be- 
tween one  fejt  of  religious  principles  and  another. 
They  ha.  re  to  enable  themfelves  to  diftinguifh 

between  true  7\nd  falfe  reafonings.— They  are  too  apt 
to  take  it  for  granted,  that  what  they  ha\  .  d  is 

truth,  and  that  nothing  can  be  advanced  with  the  lead 
colour  of  reaibn  for  the  contrary  :  when,  therefore, 
an  argument  appears  with  a  little  plaufibility  on  its 
face,  it  has  only  xo  chi  ?&&£>  or  a  hearings  and 

their  affent  is  gained.     Brethre-  ae,  if  nothing 

elfe,  provpke  us,  that  \s  lire.y3 

d  to  and  fro  b\  every  ivind  of chorine.  Ephef.  iv.  14. 
Let  us  be  concerned,  not  obftimitely  to  adhere  to  our 
prefent  fentiments,  be  they  what  they  may,  but  to  know 
the  mind  of  God  in  his  word  j  and  knowing  it,  let  us 
ftedfaftly  adhere  to  it. 

The  prefent  age  feems  to  be  an  age  of  trial.  Not 
only  is  the  gofpel  corrupted  by  thofe  who  bear  the 
Chrittian  nam&;  but,  of  late,  you  well  know,  it  has 
been  openly  afiaited.  The  mod  direct  and  daring  op- 
pofition  has  been  made  to  the  very  name  of  Chriitiani- 
ty.  I  am  not  going  to  alarm  you  with  any  idea  that 
the  church  is  in  danger  :  no,  my  brethren,  the  church, 
of  which  we,  I  truft,  are  members,  and  of  which  Qhrift, 
and  Chrift  alone,  is  head,  is  not  in  clanger  :  it  is  built 
upon  a  rock,  and  the  gates  of  hell  (hall  not  prevail 
agaiuil  it.  Neither  are  my  apprehehfions  excited  con- 
cerning thofe  who  are  true  members  of  the  church  : 
thefe  trying  blafls,  though  they  may  affect  them  for  a 
feafon,  will  ultimately  caufe  them  to  take  deeper  root. 
Neverthelefs,  it  becomes  us  to  feel  for  the  fouls  of  men, 
efpeciaily  for  the  rifing  generation  \  and  to  warn  even 
good  men  that  they  be  not  unarmed  in  the  evil  day. 

The 


68       The  Importance  of  a  deep  and  intimate 

The  human  heart  has  ever  been  averfe  to  the  gcfpel 
of  Chrift  ;  but  the  turn  or  temper  Gf  the  prefent  age 
is  peculiarly  in  favour  of  infidelity.  In  much  the  fame 
manner  as,  in  former  ages,  men  were  violently  attach- 
ed to  a  perfecuting  fuperftirfcn,  they  are  now  verging 
to  the  oppofite  extreme,  and  are  in  danger  of  throwing 
off  all  religion.  Our  temptations,  and  thofe  which 
will  attend  our  pofterity  after  us,  are  likely,  therefore, 
to  be  widely  different  from  what  they  have  hitherto 
been.  Hitherto  nominal  Chriitianity  has  been  no  re- 
proach ;  but  reproach  has  attached  itfelf  to  the  other 
fide.  The  cafe,  in  this  reipett,  may  foon  be  altered. 
Men  grow  bold  in  avowing  their  contempt  of  Chrifti- 
anity ;  and  many  among  the  difiipated  part  of  the 
youth  are  following  their  example.  Now,  if  charac- 
ters of  this  defcription  fhould  fpring  up  in  fufficient 
numbers,  not  only  to  keep  each  other  in  countenance, 
but  to  turn  the  tide  of  reproach  again  ft  Chriftians,  as 
a  company  of  wrong-headed  fenthufiafts,  we  fhall  foon 
fee  which  fide  the  mafs  of  mankind  will  take.  Their 
characters  being  loofe  and  profligate,  they  have  long 
{Ai  themfuves  condemned  by  the  gcfpel  5  and  this  is 
a  matter  that  does  net  fit  very  eafy  upon  thern. — Noth- 
ing has  kept  thein  from  rejecting  it  before  now,  but 
the  difgrace  that  would  follow  upon  their  becoming 
open  infidels  :  whenever,  therefore,  this  difgrace  fhall 
be  removed,  we  may  expect  them  to  go  off  in  great 
companies.  The  flighted  obfervation  of  human  nature 
mult  convince  us,  that  the  greater  part  of  mankind, 
even  in  religious  matters,  are  governed  by  fafhion  : 
they  go  with  the  courfe  of  ihis  rjorhL  So  great  an  in- 
fluence has  the  tide  of  pul>lic  opinion  upon  them,  that 
even  where  it  is  not  altogether  agreeable  to  their  own 
views  and  inclinations,  they  are,  nrverthelefs,  frequent- 
ly carried  away  by  it :  but  if  it  be  thus  where  public 
opinion  and  private  inclination  are  at  variance,  it  muft, 
of  courfe,  be  much  more  fo  in  thofe  cafes  wherein  they 
ire  agreed,     This  will  be  like  a  union  of  the  wind  and 

tide  ; 


Knowledge  of  Divine  Truth.  69 

•tide  :  the  vefiel  that  is  carried  along  by  fuch  a  joint 
influence,  can  fcarcely  have  any  thing  left  to  impede 
its  progrefs. 

The  great  influence,  which  a  certain  popular  pam- 
phlet has  had  upon  men's  minds,  is  not  fo  much  owing 
to  the  work  itfelf,  though  it  poflefles  all  the  agreeable- 
nefs  to  a  depraved  heart,  which  wit  and  malignity  can 
give  it,  as  to  the  bias  of  theprefent  generation  in  favour 
of  the  principles  which  it  contains.  Of  this  the  au- 
thor himfelf  feems  to  have  been  fufficiently  aware,  by 
the  title  which  he  has  thought  proper  to  give  his  per- 
formance.* 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  almoft  all  our  religious  contro- 
vert] es  will  (oon  be  reduced  to  one,  upon  which  the 
it  body  of  men  will  divide.  Is  Chriftiamty  true  or 
falfe  ?  Is  there  ta  God  ?  Is  there  a  heaven  and  a  hell  ? 
Or  is  it  all  a  iitlion  ?  Agitated  by  thefe  important  quef- 
tions,  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Europe, 
and  perhaps  of  America,  including  our  own  pofterirjr, 
may  rank  either  as  real  Chriftians,  or  as  open  Infidels. 

What  (halt  we  fay  to  thefe  things  ?  Ought  they  to 
deprefs  us  ?  We  ought,  undoubtedly,  to  feel  for  the 
welfare  of  men's  fouls,  and  cannot  but  feel  for  thofe 
who  are  more  intimately  connected  with  us:  but  up- 
on any  other  principle,  I  know  not  that  they  ought  to 
have  any  fuch  efie£i  upon  us.  God  is  upon  his  throne  : 
his  cl  upon  a  rock  :  whatever  hour  vf  temptation 

'  may  try  them  that  dwell  up- 

on  the  earthy  thofe  who  hold  faft  tiierice 

f  Be  kept  through  it :  Rev.  iii.  10.  All  things  are  work* 
ing  together  for  good  to  them  thai  love  God.  With  thefe 
views,  Chriftians  may  rejoice,  and  rejoice  always. 

While 

•  The  Age  of  Reafon, 


/•  The  Importance^  SAr* 

Wliile  we  rejoice,  however,  we  muft  rejoice  with 
trembling  ;  and  while  we  confide  in  God,  muft  be  dif- 
fident of  ourfelves.  Let  us  not  prefume  on  our  own 
firmnefs,  but  put  en  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ive 
may  iuitly7and  in  the  evil  day.  The  fifit  thing  required 
in  this  divine  accoutrement  is,  that  our  loins  he  girt  about 
with  truth,  Lphef.  vi.  14  :  but  truth  will  not  prove  as 
a  girdle  to  our  lcins  in  the  day  cf  battle,  except  we  be 
deeply  and  intimately  acquainted  with  it. 

O  ye  fons  and  daughters  of  careleffhefs,  who  are 
called  Chriftians,  but  Live  no  root  in  yourfelves,  what 
afpe£t  do  thefe  things  wear  towards  you  ?  The  time 
feems  drawing  nigh  that  will  prove  you  to  be  what 
you  are  f  Hitherto  there  has  been  an  cuter  court  for 
you,  and  you  have  worfhipped  hr  it.  You  have  long 
had  a  form  of  godHnefa,  but  have  been  without  the 
power.  You  have  ranked  with  the  friends  of  truth, 
but  have  never  received  it  in  love,  that  you  might  be 
fayed.  You  hare  kept  up  the  profefiion  of  fome  thing 
that  has  been  called  Chriftianity,  without  feeling  your- 
felves  under  any  neceffity  to  proceed  farther  :  but  now 
your  outer  court  will  probably  be  taken  away,  and  you 
will  feel  yourfelves  impelled,  as  it  were,  either  to  come 
In  and  be  Chriftians  in  reality,  or  to  go  out  and  take 
your  portion  with  the  unbelieving  and  the  abominable* 


In  the  Prefs  of  MANNING  &  LORING, 

A  VIEW  OF  RELIGIONS, 

In  Two  Parts. 

Part  I.  Containing  an  alphabetical  Compedium  of  the 
various  religious  Denominations,  which  have  appeared  in  the 
World,  from  the  beginning  of  the  Chriftian  Era  to  the  pref- 
ent  Day, 

Part  II.  Containing  a  brief  Account  of  the  different 
Scheme,  oi  nou  embraced  among  Mankind. 

The  whole  collected  from  the  moft  approved  Authors, 
ancient  and.  modern. 

By  HANNAH  ADAMS. 

The  Third  Edition-,  ivith  large  Additions. 

«  Prove  all  things,  hold  fail  that  which  is  good."—- -Apofcle  Paul. 

Alfo  in  the  Prefs, 
A     COMPENDIOUS 

MEDICAL  DICTIONARY: 

Containing  an  Explanation  of  the  Terms    in  Anatomy, 
Phyfiology,  Surgery,  Materia  Medic  a,  Chemifiry,  and  Prafticc 
of  Phyfic.     Collected  from  the  moll  approved  Authors. 
Bv  R.  HOOPER,  m.  d. 

Of  Pembroke  College,  Oxford  ;  Fellow  of  the  Linns  an  and  London 
Medical  Societies. 

The  Author's  Defign  is  expre/Ted  in 
The    PREFACE. 

"  THE  object  of  the  prefent  Medical  portable  Dictionary 
is  to  deliver,  in  a  concife  and  perfpicuous  manner,  the  expla- 
nation, Sec.  of  all  the  terms  ufed  in  the  whole  fcience  of 
medicine. 

"  Many  excellent  works  have  already  appeared  on  the 
fame  fubjecl  ;  but  their  magnitude  and  diffufenefs  are  great 
objections  to  their  general  utility.  A  work,  therefore,  con- 
centrating their  advantages  without  their  inconvenience,  it  is 
hoped,  will  be  acceptable  to  medical  ftudents." 

August,  1801. 


fj3*   The  above  Works  will  be  publi/hed  in  a  few  weeks, 


BOOKS, 

For  Sale  at  Manning  cjf  Loring's  Bookftore, 

No.  2,  Cornhilly  Boston. 
HTHE  Gofpel  its  own  Witnefs  :  or?  The  Holy 

Nature  and  Divine  Harmony  of  the  Chriftian  Religion, 
contrafted  with  the  Immorality  and  Abfurdity  of  Deifm* 
By  ANDREW  FULLER. 

Motto—"  Laying  his  hand  on  his  Bible,  he  would  fay,  c  There  is 
true  Philofophy.  This  is  the  wifdom  that  fpeaks  to  the  heart.  A 
bad  life  is  the  only  grand  obje&ion  to  this  Book."— Earl  of  Rochejler. 

To  which  is  annexed,  A  Summary  of  the  principal  Evi- 
dences for  the  Truth  and  Divine  Origin  of  the  Chriftian 
Revelation.    Defigned  chiefly  for  the  ufe  of  Young  Perfons. 
By  BIELBY,,  Lord  Bimop  of  London. 

[Pricey  bound  together ■,  One  Dollar* 

Obfervations  on  the  Converfion  and  Apoftle- 

{hip  of  St.  Paul :  being  an  argumentative  and  rational  De- 
fence of  the  Chriftian  Revelation  ;  deduced  from  the  Cir- 
cumftances  of  St.  Paul  before  his  Converfion,  and  the  Effects 
which  followed  it,  as  exemplified  in  his  Life,  and  in  thc- 
Dodtrines  which  he  preached.  In  a  letter  to  Gilbert 
West,  Efq, 

By  Lord  GEORGE  LYTTLETON. 
The  Author  of  the  celebrated  Work,  entitled,  Purfdits  of 
Literature,  gives  the  following  recommendation  of  this  valu- 
able Tracl  : "Lord  Lyttleton  has  difcuffed  the  mod  il- 

luftrious  inftance  of  the  Converfion  to  this  [the  Chriftian] 
religion,  in  the  perfon  of  St.  Paul,  a  man  of  the  highefi 
natural  talents,  and  profoundeit  reafoning  and  erudition  ; 
and  he  has  accompanied  the  whole  with  remarks  of  weight 
and  dignity  on  the  general  fubjec~t  of  Revelation. " 

Wilberforce's  PradHcal  View  of  the  prevailing  Re- 
ligious Syftem  of  ProfeiTed  Chriftians,  in  the  higher 
and  middle  dalles,  contrafted  with  Real  Chriftianity, 

Watts' s  Miscellaneous  Thoughts,  in  Verfe  and  Prole. 

Brown's  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,  containing  an  Hii- 
torical  Account  of  the  Perfons  ;  a  Geographical  and 
Hiftorical  Account  of  the  Places  \  a  literal,  critical, 
and  fyftermtical  Defcription  of  other  objeels,  whether 
natural,  artificial,  civil,  religious  cr  military  \  and  the 


BOOKS. 

Explication  of  the  appellative  terms,  mentioned  in  the 
writings  of  the  Old  and  New  Teftament. 

Butterworth's  Concordance  to  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

Newton  on  the  Prophecies. 

Orton's  Difcourfes  to  the  Aged. 

Fleetwood's  Life  of  Chrift  ;  together  with  the  Lives 
and  Sufferings  of  the  Apoftles. 

Campbell  on  Miracles. 

Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Ofborn,  late  of  Newport, 
Rhodc-Ifland.     By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins, 

Owen  on  the  Hebrews. 

Newton's  Works  in  nine  volumes. 

Blair's  Sermons. 

Booth's  Reign  of  Grace,  from  its  Rife  to  its  Con- 
fummation. 

Burton's  Led wres  onFemaleEducation  and  Manners. 

Butler's  Analogy  of  Religion,  Natural  and  ReveaL- 
ed,  to  the  Conftitution  and  Courfe  of  Nature. 

Boflon's  Human  Nature  in  its  Fourfold  State. 

Book  of  Martyrs,  with  Plates. 

Bogatzky's  Golden  Treafury  for  the  Children  of 
God  :  confiding  of  feleft  Texts  of  the  Bible,  with 
Pra&ical  Obfervations,  in  Profe  and  Verfe,  for  every 
day  in  the  year. 

Calvary  ;  or  the  Death  of  Chrift,  a  Poem,  by  Rich- 
ard Cumberland. 

Coles'  Difcourfe  on  the  Sovereignty  of  God. 

Doddridge's  Rife  and  Progrefs  of  Religion  in  the 
Soul,  illuftrated  in  a  courfe  of  fericus  and  practical 
Addrefles,  fuited  to  perfons  of  every  character  and 
circumftance. 

Ne  w  Edition  of  Sacred  Dramas,  chiefly  intended  for 
Young  Perfons  :  The  fubjefts  taken  frcm  the  Bible. 
To  which  are  added,  Reflections  of  King  Hezekiah* 
Senfibitity,  a  poem  ;  and  Search  after  Happinefs. 
By  HANNAH  MORE. 

Motto — "  All  the  Books  of  the  Bible  are  either  moil  admirable 
and  exalted  pieces  of  Poetry,  or  are  the  bell  materials  ill  the  world 
fork."  Cowaey. 


BOOKS. 

Doddridge's  Ten  Sermons  on  Regeneration. 

Dayies'  Sermons  on  important  Subjects. 

Edwards  on  Religious  Affections. 

Edwards'  Hiftory  of  Redemption,  with  Notes,  His- 
torical, Critical,  and  Theological. 

Edwards  on  the  Millennium. 

Fuller's  Letters,  in  which  the  Calviniftic  and  Socni- 
ian  Sy items  are  examined  and  compared  as  to  their 
moral  tendency. 

Grove,  on  the  Nature  and  Defign  of  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

Gofpel  Sonnets,  by  Ermine. 

Hunter's  Sacred  Biography  ;  to  which  is  added,  the 
Hiftory  of  Deborah,  Ruth,  and  Hannah. 

Hopkins's  Syftem  of  Divinity. 

Hervey's  Meditations  and  Contemplations  ;  contain- 
ing his  Meditations  among  the  Tombs,  Reflections  on 
a  Flower  Garden,  Defcant  on  Creation,  Contempla- 
tions on  Night,  on  the  Starry  Heavens,  a  Winter 
Piece,  &c.  &c. 

Home's  Commentary  on  the  Book  of  Pfalms. 

Jenks's  Prayers  and  Oilices  of  Devotion  for  Families 
and  particular  Perfons. 

Jenyns'  Inquiry  into  the  Nature  and  Origin  of  Evil. 

View  of  the  Internal  Evidence  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion. 

Life  of  Prefident  Stiles,  by  the  Rev^  Abiel  Holmes, 
with  a  Portrait. 

Lives  of  Drs.  Watts  and  Doddridge. 

M'Ewen  on  the  Types,  Figures  and  Allegories  of 
the  Old  Teftament. 

Mafon  on  Self  Knowledge,  (hewing  the  Nature  and 
Benefit  of  that  important  Science,  and  the  way  to  at- 
tain it. 
.  Orton's  Letters  to  a  young  Clergyman. 

Paley's  View  of  the  Evidences  of  Chriftianity. 

Pike  and  Hayward's  Religious  Cafes  of  Confcience, 
anfwered  in  an  evangelical  manner  \  to  which  is  added 


B    O     O    K    & 

the  Spiritual  Companion  •,  or,  the  Profeffing  Chriftian 
tried  at  the  bar  of  God's  Word. 

Poor  Man's  Help,  and  Young  Man's  Guide,  (by 
Burkitt)  containing  Doftrinal  Inftru&ions;  Practical 
Directions  \  Forms  of  Prayer,  Hymns,  &c.  &c. 

Pilgrim's  Progrefs  (by  Bunyan)  from  this  world  to 
that  which  is  to  come,  delivered  under  the  fimilitude 
of  a  Dream  ;  with  the  Life  of  the  Author. 

Scougal's  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man,  with- 
Rules  for  a  Holy  Life. 

Thomfon's  Seafons. 

Watts's  Lyric  Poems,  facred  to  Devotion  and  Piety  $ 
Virtue,  Honour  and  Eriendfliip-,  the  Memory  of  the 
Dead. 

Watts's  Mifcellaneous  Thoughts  in  Profe  and  Verfe, 
on  Natural,  Moral  and  Divine  Subje&s. 

Watts's  Logic;  or,  the  right  Ufe  of  Reafon  in  the 
Inquiry  after  Truth. 

Watts  on  the  Improvement  of  the  Mind  \  being  a 
fupplernent  to  the  Art  of  Logic. 

Willifon's  AfHi£ted  Man's  Companion  ;  or,  a  Direc- 
tory for  Perfons  and  Families,  affli&ed  with  Sicknefs, 
or  any  other  Diftrefs. 

Willifon's  Sacramental  Meditations  and  Advices, 
grounded  upon  Scripture  Texts,  proper  for  communi- 
cants, with  a  (hort  Chriftian  Dire&ory,  &c. 

Whitefteld's  Ten  Sermons  on  various  important 
fubjedls. 

Whitefield's  Eighteen  Sermons  on  various  important 
fubje£ts. 

Young's  (Dr.)  Night  Though ts,  on  Life,  Death  and 
Immortality;  with  the  Life  of  the  Author,  &c. 

Zimmermann  on  Solitude,  with  relpeft  to  its  influ- 
ence upon  the  Mind  and  Heart. 


I 


